John Swinney has not spoken with the former chief nursing officer despite allegations she offered significant cash “bribes” to grieving families at the troubled Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
The Herald can reveal that the First Minister, Health Secretary Neil Gray, and their officials have failed to contact Fiona McQueen since the allegations emerged.
The QEUH has been the subject of an inquiry following patient deaths and infections linked to contaminated water and ventilation systems.
Ms McQueen remains a senior public servant and the chair of the Scottish Police Authority but served as the chief nursing officer from 2015 to 2021.
The family of Sophia Smith, who died at the hospital from a bacterial infection in 2017 at just 12 days old, claim that Ms McQueen offered them a £20,000 cash sum and a holiday.
Evidence given to the Scottish Hospital Inquiry by whistleblower Dr Christine Peters, a consultant microbiologist at QEUH, stated that Ms McQueen questioned why NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had not “just offered the families 50 grand” or a “trip to Disneyland” rather than deny harm had been caused.
Ms McQueen has strongly refuted the claims, while the First Minister told journalists he has full confidence in the former chief nurse.
Read more:
- Swinney stands by former chief nurse amid 'bribe' claims
- Ministers back ex-nursing chief after QEUH ‘Disneyland’ payout claim
- Neil Gray dodges questions over QEUH 'bribe' claims
In a freedom of information request sent to the Scottish Government earlier this month, The Herald asked for all correspondence between government officials and Ms McQueen or her staff that mentioned the hospital inquiry.
The FOI also asked for direct communications between Ms McQueen and the First Minister and the Health Secretary.
The Scottish Government said “no correspondence or communications” existed.
Jackie Baillie, the health spokeswoman for Scottish Labour, said the lack of communication was “shameful”.
Ms Baillie, who is also the party’s deputy leader, said: “It is quite astonishing that neither John Swinney, Neil Gray, nor government officials appear to have seen fit to contact Fiona McQueen.
“These are serious allegations against Ms McQueen, which if true, indicate that grieving families were offered bribes rather than the truth about loved ones who died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. That is shameful.
“The idea that a family would be offered money and a free holiday to Disneyland instead of justice is reprehensible. Yet, it seems that John Swinney and Neil Gray would rather plead ignorance than get to the bottom of the issue.
“It is the same pattern we have seen with the SNP time and time again; a refusal to take any responsibility, blame others, and a willingness to cover-up wrongdoing.
“There is still time for John Swinney and Neil Gray to do the right thing here. I would urge them to finally find a backbone, bring Fiona McQueen to Parliament, and get the answers that families deserve.”
The Scottish Government told The Herald that ministers had not spoken with Ms McQueen about her reported comments as the matters related to a public inquiry and would be inappropriate to comment on.
Read more:
- SNP ministers alerted to serious QEUH infections before 2018
- NHS board accepts probable infections and hospital water system link
- Inside the damning report that exposes failures at QEUH
A spokesperson for Ms McQueen said: “Fiona strongly refutes any suggestions that she offered the Smiths money or a holiday. Her interactions with Mr and Mrs Smith were reviewed as part of Sophia’s Fatal Accident Inquiry and are on the public record.”
Mr Swinney’s official spokesman confirmed the First Minister maintained confidence in Ms McQueen. Asked why he had confidence in her, he said: “Because he has confidence in her.”
Prosecutors are investigating the deaths of seven patients at the Glasgow super hospital.
The First Minister has repeatedly denied that political pressure was applied to open the campus in April 2015 – just before the general election and before it was ready.
Weeks ahead of an election and the opening of the QEUH, Mr Swinney, who was deputy first minister at the time, referred to the hospital and said: “With the SNP Government, on time and on budget is the rule, not the exception.”
It later emerged that an independent report, conducted weeks after Mr Swinney’s speech, stated the children’s hospital was not safe, had a high risk of infections, and therefore “high risk to life for immunocompromised patients”.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has since said that it opened the hospital too early, faced design flaws, and that some infections were likely linked to contamination issues.
