Latest news with #MillyMain
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
We owe it to Milly Main to give power to NHS patients instead of health board bosses
In his regular column for the Record, the Scottish Labour leader vows to continue his campaign for justice for Milly Main's family. This week marks a decade since the opening of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. There is no doubt that so many amazing lifesaving treatments have been performed by exceptional NHS staff over that decade, but all has not been well. Soon after opening, it became clear that the hospital had major issues that needed to be addressed, with people being put at risk. Whistleblowers raised concerns over a breakdown in communications, issues related to the water supply and risks posed by potential hospital-acquired infections. In response, the health board and Scottish Government flatly denied that there were any issues. Gradually a scandal of enormous and deadly significance was uncovered. The uncovering of this scandal was down to the intrepid journalism of this newspaper, but also the result of the testimony of brave families seeking answers and of NHS staff who were not willing to stand by and do nothing. I first became aware of serious issues when I was contacted by whistleblowers working at the QEUH. They described to me in great detail the issues with the water supply, the scale of infections in immunocompromised children and that there had been tragically at least two deaths of children as a result. These issues had been raised with the board leadership who rather than take action chose to deny it, bully the staff and cover it up instead. Most shockingly of all they told me that the parents of the two children that had lost their lives had not been told the true cause of their deaths. That shook me to my core. Imagine that was me or one of my loved ones. This couldn't be allowed to happen. I had to do something. One of those children was ten year old Milly Main, a young girl full of charm and light, who was in remission and looking forward to getting home when she acquired a deadly infection and died in the QEUH. Milly's mum Kimberley Darroch, one of the most inspiring people I have ever met in my life, read that I had raised the scandal at First Minister's Questions. She believed that one of those children may be Milly. Kimberley contacted me and from that day in 2017 it has been my honour to stand with her and her family in their fight for justice. And what we uncovered is nothing short of the biggest scandal in the history of devolution. In the face of cover up and denial from the health board and disinterest from the SNP government, Milly's family and other campaigners have fought tirelessly for justice. And what has been revealed? Serious mistakes and oversights that led to the opening of the hospital despite reports clearly stating infection of the hospital's water supply - with deadly bugs detected in the water system and cryptococcus from pigeon droppings. This led to serious infection outbreaks and played a role in the death not only of Milly but of several other patients. And as the health board fought against transparency, the full details of their failure became apparent. Serious warnings were missed or ignored. Senior clinicians who raised the alarm were subject to bullying. And the concerns of families and patients were ignored to save the health board's leadership blushes. This is scandalous. But while these families fought tenaciously for justice, they were also failed by an SNP government that at first denied any issues at the hospital and going on to defend the health board leaders at every turn. The health board is now the subject of a corporate homicide investigation. The first time in Scottish history. We can never again allow patients and victims to be ignored and dismissed by an out of touch bureaucracy and a government that is indulging in cover-up. That's why - as First Minister - I will introduce Milly's Law to put power into the hands of families. Our plans would fundamentally re-balance the power between families and the powers that be. And our plans would create an independent public advocate with the authority to investigate incidents to establish the truth. We owe it to Milly all the families impacted to deliver justice. Greedy touts are ripping off music fans This summer, thousands of music fans will have been making the most of the good weather watching their favourite artists at festivals such as TRNSMT and Glastonbury. And in just a few weeks', Oasis will be taking to the stage at Murrayfield in Edinburgh as they embark on their long-awaited comeback tour. But, while these events are the highlight of the summer for many, unfortunately greedy ticket touts are snapping up tickets and flogging them for extortionate amounts. We saw this earlier this month when tickets for Lewis Capaldi's upcoming tour went on sale and were quickly being sold on for more than £400. This is unacceptable, and it is why the UK Labour Government is taking action on this issue by clamping down on ruthless touts gaming the system. The UK Labour government has set out plans to cap resale prices and ban ticket hoarding – actions that will benefit not only music fans, but sports fans, here in Scotland. This will ensure that Scots are not left out of pocket by unscrupulous ticket sellers and are not priced out of big events that they can enjoy with their friends and family. A UK Labour government putting Scottish concertgoers first.
The Independent
21-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Final hospitals inquiry report and recommendations expected at end of 2026
The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry's final report is expected to be issued at the end of next year after calls for further evidence. The inquiry has been examining the design and construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children, which are on the same campus. It was launched in the wake of deaths linked to infections, including that of 10-year-old Milly Main. The inquiry is also examining the design and construction of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences in Edinburgh. The four-part hearings on the Glasgow hospitals began in 2021 in front of chairman Lord Brodie, and are expected to finish in January 2026. The last evidential hearings are expected in three parts – between May and October 2025 – with a final oral closing hearing in January. They will hear more expert evidence relating to the cause of infections at the Glasgow hospitals at the request of some core participants. The first hearings in 2021 heard evidence about the physical, emotional, and other impacts on patients and families connected with the hospitals. Hearings in 2023 heard from clinicians and those directly involved with patients. In November 2024, the third sessions concluded, having heard evidence examining the extent that non-compliance with relevant regulations and guidance led to ventilation and water contamination issues. It also explored the actions taken to resolve these issues after the handover in 2015 and the extent of their effectiveness. Glasgow IV will be the final session of oral hearings, with a revised schedule issued while evidence is analysed. A spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry said: 'In recent weeks a number of core participants have requested the inquiry consider more expert evidence relating to the cause of infections at the Glasgow hospitals. 'This, and Lady Wise's decision relating NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's additional expert report, has resulted in a revised inquiry schedule. 'The inquiry team is gathering the additional evidence requested, carrying out analysis and considering its evidential value. 'Glasgow IV hearings will now be split into three parts between May and October this year. A final oral closing hearing will take place in January 2026. 'As a result of accommodating the requests from core participants, and integrating the evidence into the investigative process, Lord Brodie's final report and recommendations are expected to be published at the end of 2026.'
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Inquiry begins into hospital death of 11-day-old baby girl
A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has begun into the death of an 11-day-old baby at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Smith died at the hospital on 11 April 2017 after contracting an infection similar to MRSA, which developed into previously carried out an investigation into her death, alongside other fatalities at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) including leukaemia patient Milly Main, 10, who died after a catheter became infected when she was in January, the lord advocate said it was in the public interest to hold an FAI into Sophia's death. Before the inquiry got under way at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sophia's parents Theresa and Matthew Smith, who live in Inverclyde, said they hoped to finally get an answer as to why their daughter died.A statement read out by their lawyer said: "It has been a long road to get to this milestone that we have reached today."We are pleased that a fatal accident inquiry has been finally set up and hope that by the end of this process we will know the truth about our daughter and why her life was tragically and heartbreakingly cut short."Sophia, who had Down's syndrome, was born on 31 March 2017 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in was transferred to Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children after her oxygen levels suggested she had possible cyanotic heart disease and poor femoral condition showed signs of improvement until 10 April, and she died the following 2020, the police investigation into Sophia's death was handed over to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) but a decision was made not to bring criminal charges.
