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Health secretary Jeane Freeman faces resignation call over child death | Health secretary Jeane Freeman faces resignation call over child death |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The health secretary is facing a call to resign after it emerged a child's death at a Glasgow hospital could be linked to contaminated water. | The health secretary is facing a call to resign after it emerged a child's death at a Glasgow hospital could be linked to contaminated water. |
The child died in 2017 while being treated at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) and Ms Freeman learned of the case in September. | The child died in 2017 while being treated at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) and Ms Freeman learned of the case in September. |
She said she acted on the information but did not make details public because of patient confidentiality. | She said she acted on the information but did not make details public because of patient confidentiality. |
The Scottish Conservatives said she should resign or be sacked. | The Scottish Conservatives said she should resign or be sacked. |
The case - which was brought to light by an NHS whistleblower - was highlighted during First Minister's Questions on Thursday by Scottish Labour MSP Anas Sarwar. | The case - which was brought to light by an NHS whistleblower - was highlighted during First Minister's Questions on Thursday by Scottish Labour MSP Anas Sarwar. |
While it was known there were a number of possible water-related infections in 2018, he said a clinician-led investigation had found up to 26 further potential cases on the cancer ward in 2017 including one child who had died. | While it was known there were a number of possible water-related infections in 2018, he said a clinician-led investigation had found up to 26 further potential cases on the cancer ward in 2017 including one child who had died. |
Describing it as a "cover up", he claimed the child's parents had been left in the dark about the possible link between the death and bacteria in the water at the hospital. | Describing it as a "cover up", he claimed the child's parents had been left in the dark about the possible link between the death and bacteria in the water at the hospital. |
Greater Glasgow Health Board insists a link between the infection and the hospital cannot be proven because regulations at the time did not require water testing. | Greater Glasgow Health Board insists a link between the infection and the hospital cannot be proven because regulations at the time did not require water testing. |
The Scottish government said Ms Freeman was contacted by a bereaved parent in September and she arranged for a representative of the health board to make urgent contact with them to ensure their questions were answered. | The Scottish government said Ms Freeman was contacted by a bereaved parent in September and she arranged for a representative of the health board to make urgent contact with them to ensure their questions were answered. |
The case is the latest in a series of problems to hit the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children which share a campus in Glasgow. | The case is the latest in a series of problems to hit the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Children which share a campus in Glasgow. |
In January it emerged two people had died at the QEUH after contracting an infection linked to pigeon droppings. Ms Freeman recently announced a public inquiry into construction issues at both the Glasgow "super hospital" site and the new children's hospital in Edinburgh. | |
Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: "There's no way Jeane Freeman can continue in the role now the details of this case have been made clear. | Scottish Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: "There's no way Jeane Freeman can continue in the role now the details of this case have been made clear. |
"It should not take a whistleblower and an opposition MSP to drag the truth out of this SNP government. It's completely unacceptable. | "It should not take a whistleblower and an opposition MSP to drag the truth out of this SNP government. It's completely unacceptable. |
"Patients will be absolutely furious that such a serious failure has been covered up by this SNP government. | "Patients will be absolutely furious that such a serious failure has been covered up by this SNP government. |
"The health secretary must apologise to the family and resign or, if she refuses, be sacked." | "The health secretary must apologise to the family and resign or, if she refuses, be sacked." |
Earlier this year a Health Protection Scotland investigation identified 23 potential cases of water-linked infection at the RHC during 2018, but details of the review looking at earlier possible cases were not disclosed. | Earlier this year a Health Protection Scotland investigation identified 23 potential cases of water-linked infection at the RHC during 2018, but details of the review looking at earlier possible cases were not disclosed. |
Ms Freeman said on Thursday said she deeply regretted that the parents felt they not been given the information "they have a perfect right to receive and are entitled to". | Ms Freeman said on Thursday said she deeply regretted that the parents felt they not been given the information "they have a perfect right to receive and are entitled to". |
She added: "They have my commitment to act to ensure that situation does not happen to parents in the future. | She added: "They have my commitment to act to ensure that situation does not happen to parents in the future. |
"I don't regret honouring patient confidentiality. But upholding patient confidentiality does not mean I don't act on the information I am given." | "I don't regret honouring patient confidentiality. But upholding patient confidentiality does not mean I don't act on the information I am given." |
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