A police probe into failings at Scotland’s super-hospital has prompted a main public inquiry to be suspended, households have been informed.
The Sunday Mail has discovered how key witnesses are involved over giving proof concerning the Queen Elizabeth College Hospital in case they incriminate themselves. Officers dealing with the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry have now cancelled hearings into the troubled £842million Glasgow web site which had been deliberate for later this yr.
The choice by Lord Brodie has prompted frustration for households who've been ready years for solutions on why their kids grew to become contaminated with uncommon bugs whereas being handled on the hospital.
Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar mentioned: “Households shouldn’t have to attend a second longer than they must… to get the solutions and justice they deserve.
“The dearth of transparency and sickening ranges of evasion should finish. We’ve at all times believed lots of the failures have been prison. Regardless of that, nobody has taken duty. Nobody has resigned or been sacked.”
Dozens of households concerned within the inquiry have additionally been informed the police probe is a part of the rationale why the hearings have been delayed. Officers have been quizzing frontline NHS Better Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) workers in addition to whistleblowers, board members and senior administration.
It’s now understood one ingredient of the police investigation is trying into the usage of infection-preventing medicine – generally known as prophylactic remedy – which got to some sick kids to guard them from bugs within the water and air.
The inquiry is known to have obtained proof from one knowledgeable who is worried about the usage of prophylactic medicines and the long-term results it will probably trigger for sufferers.
Steven Love QC, a lawyer representing households affected by the scandal, informed the inquiry final yr that oldsters weren’t informed their kids had been being given the drugs to guard them from the bugs and a few had been informed it was a part of their youngster’s most cancers remedy.
In December we informed how four-year-old most cancers affected person James Campbell was given secret remedy of antibiotics, which dad David knew nothing about.
One supply near the inquiry confirmed there had been key witnesses cautious of giving proof as a result of police probe, including: “There's a worry some witnesses received’t give proof in the event that they assume they'll face prison prosecution and, in the event that they ask a lawyer, they might inform them to not give proof in any respect on this circumstance.”
The hearings into points with the constructing of the delayed £150million Edinburgh Royal Hospital for Youngsters and Younger Individuals have additionally been postponed.
Anne Marie Kirkpatrick and her daughter Stevie Jo, from Dumfries, have given proof to the inquiry and mentioned they had been upset with the postponed hearings. Stevie Jo, 17, was recognized with leukaemia when she was 9 and had been receiving remedy on the QEUH when she was contaminated with a uncommon bug.
Though now cancer-free, the teenager has been left with scars for all times from the an infection, which prompted lesions throughout her physique.
She mentioned: “I discovered it actually onerous to provide proof and inform them what I had gone via. If I've to do this once more due to this, I'll – however I simply need it to be over.”
Stevie Jo informed inquiry head Lord Brodie that she had felt lonely, remoted and scared whereas on the hospital and her mum mentioned she had developed PTSD.
Scottish Conservative shadow well being secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane mentioned: “Critical questions have to be answered as to why this inquiry has been allowed to pull on and has come to an abrupt halt.”
A spokesman for Thompsons Solicitors, which represents 54 households concerned within the inquiry, mentioned: “We perceive that the hearings being pushed again for a time might trigger considerations however Thompsons consider on steadiness that is being executed for good causes and will likely be to the advantage of our complete shopper base and for the flexibility of the inquiry to uncover the reality.”
The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry mentioned: “We're conscious of the police investigation however claims it has resulted in a delay to hearings or the inquiry’s work are inaccurate.
“Lord Brodie recognises the significance core members, together with sufferers and households, connect to hearings. His resolution to postpone hearings now was to in the end maintain sturdy ones when a fuller image was shaped of the weather we're trying into.”
NHS Better Glasgow and Clyde mentioned it “stays absolutely dedicated to the general public inquiry” and plenty of workers had been “ being interviewed” as a part of it.
The Scottish Authorities mentioned: “Because the inquiry is established, any issues on the way it operates is a matter for unbiased chair Lord Brodie.”
Police Scotland mentioned its investigation is ongoing.
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