Up to 80 children have been caught up in an infections probe at Scotland’s crisis-hit flagship hospital, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman revealed.
The Record told last year how cancer patient Milly Main, 10, died after contracting an infection at the children’s hospital on the Queen Elizabeth University campus in Glasgow.
Freeman has ordered urgent reviews into several aspects of health provision – the care of children with bloodstream infections since 2015, the design and build of hospitals, infection control, and communication with families.
She said: “I have a clear priority to make sure families are given the answers they need about their children’s time in
the hospital – particularly about infections that may have caused harm or in the worst cases may have been the cause of death.” Freeman said the scale of the review means it will be taken in stages.
She added: “The review team considers there are likely to be about 80 cases to be examined but they will continue to keep this assessment under review.”
Last week, Freeman escalated special measures at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and demanded “urgent action”.
Yesterday she said the board have a “final chance” to get it right.
Scottish Labour’s Monica Lennon said “fresh leadership” was needed, adding: “The Cabinet Secretary is taking tougher action but public confidence in the board was shattered long ago.”
