This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-50491894
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Health secretary issues apology over child deaths in Glasgow hospital | Health secretary issues apology over child deaths in Glasgow hospital |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's health secretary has apologised to the parents of two patients who died in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. | Scotland's health secretary has apologised to the parents of two patients who died in the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. |
| Jeane Freeman expressed her "deepest sympathies" to the families of Milly Main, 10, and a three-year-old boy. | Jeane Freeman expressed her "deepest sympathies" to the families of Milly Main, 10, and a three-year-old boy. |
| The two children died three weeks apart in August 2017 at the hospital, which is part of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus. | The two children died three weeks apart in August 2017 at the hospital, which is part of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus. |
| They had been treated on a ward which was affected by water contamination. | They had been treated on a ward which was affected by water contamination. |
| On Monday, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) apologised for the distress caused to parents. | On Monday, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) apologised for the distress caused to parents. |
| In a statement to MSPs on Wednesday, Ms Freeman said: "To lose a loved one in any circumstances is hard, but I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing a child in these circumstances - or the suffering and grief that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. | |
| "I also want to apologise to them that they feel they have not had their questions answered. | "I also want to apologise to them that they feel they have not had their questions answered. |
| "They are absolutely right to ask and pursue their questions, and they are entitled to have them answered and to receive the support they need." | "They are absolutely right to ask and pursue their questions, and they are entitled to have them answered and to receive the support they need." |
| Ms Freeman told MSPs she has asked the head of NHS Scotland to review whether any escalation of measures for the health board is required. | |
| The five-stage NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework is the Scottish equivalent of special measures, which apply in England and Wales. | |
| Labour's Monica Lennon asked the health secretary who the parents of sick children should put their trust in. | |
| Ms Freeman replied: "They can place trust in me. I have compassion, I have empathy, and that is why I met with those families and have undertaken the work that I have done. | |
| "I refute absolutely from Miss Lennon, or from anyone else, that I am careless or irresponsible on these matters - it could not be further from the truth. It may suit you [Ms Lennon] to make those points for other reasons but they are not true and I refute them absolutely." | |
| An independent review is examining water contamination and other problems at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus. | An independent review is examining water contamination and other problems at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus. |
| On Tuesday Ms Freeman told MSPs on Holyrood's health committee it would publish its findings in the spring. | On Tuesday Ms Freeman told MSPs on Holyrood's health committee it would publish its findings in the spring. |
| The health secretary said she expects a separate public inquiry, which will examine safety and wellbeing issues at the QEUH and the new children's hospital in Edinburgh, will also look at water contamination. | The health secretary said she expects a separate public inquiry, which will examine safety and wellbeing issues at the QEUH and the new children's hospital in Edinburgh, will also look at water contamination. |
| The children's deaths emerged after Labour MSP Anas Sarwar was contacted by a whistleblower. | The children's deaths emerged after Labour MSP Anas Sarwar was contacted by a whistleblower. |
| Milly Main died on 31 August while recovering from leukaemia treatment. Her mother said she was "100%" convinced her death was linked to water contamination issues. | Milly Main died on 31 August while recovering from leukaemia treatment. Her mother said she was "100%" convinced her death was linked to water contamination issues. |
| Contaminated water | |
| NHSGGC has insisted it was impossible to determine the source of Milly's infection because there was no requirement to test the water supply at the time. | NHSGGC has insisted it was impossible to determine the source of Milly's infection because there was no requirement to test the water supply at the time. |
| On Sunday police confirmed they had investigated the death of a three-year-old boy three weeks before Milly died. Police said they passed a report to the procurator fiscal. | On Sunday police confirmed they had investigated the death of a three-year-old boy three weeks before Milly died. Police said they passed a report to the procurator fiscal. |
| NHSGGC said they had fully investigated and shared their findings with the boy's family but the child's mother later described the board's media statement as "highly inaccurate". | NHSGGC said they had fully investigated and shared their findings with the boy's family but the child's mother later described the board's media statement as "highly inaccurate". |
| Last week a whistleblower revealed that a doctor-led review had identified 26 infections at RHC during 2017 which were potentially linked to contaminated water. | Last week a whistleblower revealed that a doctor-led review had identified 26 infections at RHC during 2017 which were potentially linked to contaminated water. |
| The £842m Queen Elizabeth University Hospital "super hospital" has faced a number of problems since it opened in 2015. | The £842m Queen Elizabeth University Hospital "super hospital" has faced a number of problems since it opened in 2015. |
| Two cancer wards at the adjoining children's hospital were closed last year amid concern about infections and investigation of water supply issues, with patients decanted to the adult hospital. | Two cancer wards at the adjoining children's hospital were closed last year amid concern about infections and investigation of water supply issues, with patients decanted to the adult hospital. |
| In January it emerged that two patients at the QEUH had died after contracting a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings. | In January it emerged that two patients at the QEUH had died after contracting a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings. |