Families accuse John Swinney of 'hiding behind' Glasgow hospital inquiry

The First Minister has been urged to establish a separate, independent expert panel to examine the use of powerful anti-infection drugs at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) campus.

Children given the medication for long periods of time have reported serious health problems, including chronic stomach pain, incontinence, and hearing and eyesight issues.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar raised their plight during First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) in Holyrood as some of the families watched on in the public gallery.

He said they had been lied to and the inquiry cannot give them the answers they seek, as it is not looking at individual cases.

The QEUH is being investigated by a public inquiry amid concerns contaminated water and ventilation systems may be linked to serious infections and patient deaths.

Mr Swinney said he could not pre-judge the outcome of this probe.

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Charmaine Lacock, whose daughter Paige Rawson, nine, attended the hospital in 2018 and 2020 for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, said there was a “culture of cover-up”, adding: “People are playing God with our children’s lives.”

Paige received prophylaxis, powerful anti-infection drugs, for eight months and has since suffered from hearing and eyesight issues, sore legs, severe gut issues and pain.

Speaking to journalists in Holyrood, her father, Alfred Rawson, accused the First Minister of “hiding behind the public inquiry”.

Mark Bissett, father of 14-year-old Charly Bisset, said he is angry because the hospital is “still lying to us”.

Charly was in hospital in 2019 for leukaemia treatment, and was on prophylaxis from July 2019 to March 2020. She is now adrenaline insufficient – a life-altering condition that requires her to take hormone injections.

Referring to the First Minister, he said: “How do you sleep at night?”

Aneeka Sohrab said her nine-year-old daughter Eshaal suffers from severe stomach pain, stunted growth and poor hearing after taking the drugs.

She told journalists: “It looked like John Swinney was quite afraid to open up what he probably thinks is another can of worms.”

Karen Stirrat said her family were “shunned” after speaking out about her son Caleb.

The 10-year-old was given the drugs after being treated for a brain tumour. His mother said he now suffers from chronic stomach pain, incontinence, difficulty walking and fatigue.

Ms Stirrat said: “We were shunned in there for so long after speaking out. No-one wanted to know us. I can’t understand how they have got away with this.”

She added: “It was like a third-world country. They tried to pull the wool over our eyes and made us feel stupid.”

Another patient, William Young, now suffers from extreme sickness every day. Leann Young, the 13-year-old’s mother, said she felt helpless.

She added: “When you go through the treatment and you aren’t thinking about several years down the line, you are just trying to get through each day. This will affect him for the rest of his life.”

Mr Sarwar said families need answers. Speaking during FMQs, he said parents were “lied to” when they were told prophylaxis was standard treatment and not connected to the hospital environment.

“These families believe that their children have been left with lifelong debilitating conditions as a result of prolonged use of these drugs, due to infection risks caused by the hospital environment,” he said.

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The First Minister said he would consider creating an independent panel but a final decision would only be made after the current public inquiry. His spokesman later said the issue would be considered “as a matter of urgency”.

Asked about the children suffering conditions after receiving the anti-infection drugs, Mr Swinney said: “I cannot give an opinion about the clinical decisions that are offered in individual cases.

“What I can do is express my sympathy to the families that are involved, recognise their suffering and provide them with the reassurance that the inquiry that the government has established under the leadership of Lord Brodie is designed to capture the evidence and provide the answers to those families.”

The SNP leader said he would be meeting with families on Thursday and in the coming weeks.

He added: “I am absolutely committed to making sure that families get the truth.

“Mr Sarwar asked me to put in place a process which I think, in all honesty, I have to reserve my position on until we get the report from Lord Brodie, because Parliament has asked for a public inquiry to be undertaken, and I cannot, as First Minister, pre-judge the outcome of that public inquiry.

“That is what I think is the rational thing to do. But I will consider the point that Mr Sarwar gives.”

Mr Sarwar said there had been “cover ups, secrecy, misdirection and downright deception, with tragic consequences”.

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We are very sorry to hear about the distress these children and their families are experiencing following their illness.

“While we cannot comment on individual patient cases due to confidentiality, consultants are always transparent with families about medication provided.

“Cancer treatments can significantly weaken the immune system, leaving patients much more vulnerable to serious infections. Prophylactic drugs can be an established part of care in these circumstances, as they help prevent infections that can be life‑threatening in immunocompromised patients.

“These can be prescribed as part of routine clinical management associated with an underlying condition or as a precaution if there are concerns about environment.

“The environment at the Royal Hospital for Children is safe and this medication continues to be prescribed to some patients receiving treatment as part of patient medical protocol.”