Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to come clean to parliament on whether she applied the ‘pressure’ that led to scandal-hit Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opening when ‘it was not ready’.
The hospital opened in April 2015 one month before that year’s general election, despite concerns being raised after tests were carried out on the water supply.
Two young patients subsequently died amid concerns about the water and ventilation systems. The link between the contaminated water and the deaths was denied by the health board until last weekend.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane has today written to Nicola Sturgeon urging her to make a personal statement on what she knew and when, and whether she pushed for the early opening of the hospital for political reasons.
His call comes after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde admitted in its closing statement to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry: “Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear that the hospital opened too early. It was not ready.”
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP said: “Nicola Sturgeon must come clean on whether she pressured officials to open the scandal-hit Queen Elizabeth University Hospital before it was ready.
“This flagship hospital was opened just weeks before the 2015 general election, despite concerns over its water supply. A number of patients, including 10-year-old Milly Main, subsequently lost their lives.
“If Nicola Sturgeon leaned on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde bosses to push this hospital over the line for political gain, that would be utterly unforgivable.
“The health board claim that pressure was applied and the hospital opened too soon. This had very grave consequences.
“Nicola Sturgeon has a duty to explain her role in this to bereaved families, rather than display the trademark secrecy and cover-up that we saw from her during the ferries scandal and the Covid inquiry.
“We know that Nicola Sturgeon rarely comes into parliament any more, but given the seriousness of this issue, she must find time to give grieving families the answers they deserve."