Health Board chief says QEUH 'is safe' amid calls for resignation
A health board chief has insisted that the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus is safe after reports that another child has died.
Concern has been growing in recent weeks about infections potentially linked to water contamination at the flagship £800 million hospital in Glasgow.
The mother of 10-year-old Milly Main, who died in August 2017, has said she is "100% certain'' the death of her daughter, who was being treated for cancer, was linked to contaminated water.
On Sunday, the Herald on Sunday newspaper reported that a young patient who was receiving treatment contracted a hospital-acquired infection and died last week.
Jane Grant, chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), was asked by Radio Clyde News whether the hospital campus is safe.
"First I'd like to offer my apologies and say how sorry I am about the situation that has occured in the Queen Elizabeth and Royal Hospital for Children.
"The hospital is safe, we've worked very hard over the past few weeks to ensure that those messages are being portayed to the families of patients within the hospital and we are working hard to restore public confidence in the facility."
Last week, a report leaked by a whistle-blower indicated the health board was told that areas of the flagship hospital campus were at a high risk'' of infection before opening in 2015.
Another two reports, also leaked to Labour MSP Anas Sarwar, suggest that issues were still pervasive at the hospital in 2017 and 2018.
Ms Grant said the reports were not brought to her attention until 2018 and that, as soon as she became aware of them, action was taken to address the issues they raised.
“Once I had been made aware of these reports by Health Facilities Scotland as part of the work we had commissioned following an increase in the number of infections on Ward 2A/2B, I ensured that immediate steps and necessary action was taken to provide assurance about the safety of the water supply.
“I want to assure the families involved at that time that there was no attempt to ignore these reports once they were brought to my attention."
A group of parents of 15 children being treated at the site have said they have no confidence in the board and that those responsible should not remain in place while an investigation is carried out.
Parents are also asking why their children are being given prophylaxis antibiotics, which are given to prevent an infection.
An independent review is taking place and a public inquiry examining issues at the hospital will also be held, while an "oversight board'', chaired by Chief Nursing Officer Professor Fiona McQueen, was announced by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman last week.
Ms Grant said: "I would assure you that I personally and my leadership team are committed to being open and transparent and to working our way through the issues.
"Whatever emerges, we will do our absolute best to ensure that they are addressed in a visible and swift manner.''
Asked about the report of the death last week, NHSGGC said: "We need to take care when discussing individual cases as we are bound by strict rules of patient confidentiality.
"The issue is being appropriately managed and Health Protection Scotland has been informed.
"As this involves a single case we have no further comment to make.''
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, asked whether she had confidence in NHSGGC leadership, said: Yes but we have put in the oversight board, which I think is a strong signal that we think there is stronger intervention and oversight needed there.
"Obviously that is particularly focused on issues of infection prevention and control as well as how the health board communicates with parents and patients.''
Speaking on the campaign trail in Lockerbie, Ms Sturgeon offered her condolences to the family of the deceased child.
She added: "It would not be appropriate for me to talk in detail about that, partly because of reasons of confidentiality but also because we don't yet know the full circumstances.
"The public inquiry - which will be getting under way soon - is a clear sign of our determination to absolutely get to the root of the issues there to make sure that questions can be fully answered for parents of children who have been affected so that full confidence and trust is built in terms of going forward."
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