Exclusive:Nicola Sturgeon's nursing chief suggested QEUH families offered 'trip to Disneyland' after fatal infections
The comments left a prominent whistleblower at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital ‘appalled’
The top nursing officer who oversaw infection strategies during the Glasgow superhospital scandal suggested the health board should have paid off grieving families with “a trip to Disneyland”.
Fiona McQueen, who was Nicola Sturgeon’s chief nursing officer when fatal infections killed patients at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and Royal Hospital for Children (RHC), made the comments, branded “absolutely disgusting”, in a meeting with prominent whistleblowers who lifted the lid on the scandal - leaving one of the informants “appalled”.
Ms McQueen, who is now the chair of the Scottish Police Authority, retired from nursing shortly after making the remarks.
The comments suggesting the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) health board should pay off families with a trip to Disneyland, have emerged in evidence submitted to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.
Last month, families of 18 children and adults, some who died as a result of infections, said they were "lied to and smeared" by the health board.
READ MORE: QEUH has not been fully validated by safety experts as inquiry counsel brands absence 'concerning'
Dr Christine Peters, a consultant microbiologist at the QEUH who was an infection control doctor when the facility opened, revealed the remarks in a meeting with Ms McQueen in December 2019, weeks after the full picture emerged at the hospital.
Ms Peters and fellow whistleblower, Dr Penelope Redding, held talks with Ms McQueen at a Scottish Government building in Edinburgh.
In a written statement to the inquiry, Ms Peters said: “At one point she (McQueen) said that she couldn’t understand ‘why GGC had not just offered the families 50 grand which is a trip to Disneyland, rather than deny that there had been harm caused’.
“I thought that missed the point, which is that there was a safety hazard that had not been dealt with and just paying people off would neither fix the hazard nor the organisation’s culture in dealing with it.
“I was appalled by the sentiment because we weren’t there suggesting anyone should get compensation. We wanted the problem to be solved.”
Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, said: “These jaw-dropping comments speak to the dismissive culture at top of the Scottish Government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
“Families whose loved ones were infected by a hospital that wasn’t fit for purpose deserve the truth and it is insulting to suggest they could be bought off.
“The SNP has enabled and empowered the health board throughout this scandal, but the culture of cover-up and secrecy needs to end.”
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, branded the remarks “absolutely disgusting”.
He added: “Grieving families will react with fury that someone in such a senior position even thought of saying something so callous and offensive.
“Thinking a trip to Disneyland would have offered any comfort to them is grossly insulting and utterly delusional.
“While these families continue to fight for answers, it sums up SNP-run Scotland that Nicola Sturgeon’s chief nursing officer landed on her feet with another plum public sector job.”
In response, Ms McQueen said she did “not recall using these words”.
She added: “I recall, however, discussing Dr Peters’ concerns about the way patient complaints had been handled. I would have offered, from my own experience, examples of how patient complaints and civil claims might be resolved.
“In no way would I have sought to downplay the seriousness of the concerns conveyed by Dr Peters.
“I should also make clear, for completeness, that in responding to all of the concerns raised by Drs Peters, Redding and (Teresa) Inkster, my primary motivating factor was always patient safety.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our sympathies remain with all families who are grieving the loss of a loved one. We established this inquiry so all those impacted could get answers to their questions, and so that lessons can be learned for future hospital projects.
“As an independent core participant of the inquiry, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.
“It is important that we allow Lord Brodie the space to consider all evidence before the Inquiry as he prepares his final report and recommendations.”
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