Families affected by adult patient deaths to be heard at Scottish Hospitals Inquiry

The families of three adult patients who received treatment at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) will give evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry today.  

The families say their evidence will “demonstrate a pattern of denial, secrecy and cover up”. 

Louise Slorance and Maureen Dynes lost their husbands during admissions for blood cancer treatment at the QEUH in 2020 and 2021. Access to medical records later revealed both men had infections, which the families claim were acquired whilst in hospital. 

Beth and Sandie Armstrong lost their mum, Gail, in the QEUH in 2019. She was receiving blood cancer treatment as an inpatient when she was diagnosed with cryptococcus and died. 

Andrew Slorance, who was head of the Scottish Government's response and communication unit responsible for the handling of the pandemic, died nearly six weeks into his stay at QEUH in December 2020, with the cause of his death listed as Covid pneumonia. 

But after requesting a copy of his medical notes, Slorance discovered her husband had also been treated for an infection caused by a fungus called aspergillus, which she says had not been discussed with either of them during his hospital stay. 

Speaking on behalf of the families ahead of their evidence sessions, Slorance said: “We placed our trust in the health board and the hospital to keep our loved ones safe, they not only let our families down, but the health board added to our trauma by hiding the truth. 

“We have fought for every scrap of paper we have received, our grief suspended while we fight for the truth.” 

Slorance added: “Our trauma cannot end while untruths prevail and, justice and accountability has yet to be served. 

“Knowing full well the pain and trauma that has come with our family member’s avoidable death, we cannot risk other families suffering the same. 

“For this reason, we again call on Scottish Government to immediately transfer all high-risk patients from the QEUH campus to alternative safe hospital environments that meet the requirements of these very vulnerable patients. In the longer term, the world class facility that was promised must be delivered for the people of Scotland.” 

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was first announced in 2019. It followed several patient deaths at the Glasgow hospital due to infections that have been linked to issues with the ventilation system, while the opening of the newly built children’s hospital in Edinburgh was delayed due to concerns about similar issues.

Hearings began in August of this year and will conclude next month.