NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is out of control and urgently in need of serious change at the top. Ten-year-old Milly Main was in remission from cancer when she acquired a deadly infection and died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
A probe later found that Milly died after “probably” catching a water-linked infection at the hospital.
We also reported claims by Louise Slorance, wife of cancer patient Andrew who died at the same hospital, that she had not been told about a fungal infection mentioned in his notes.
In both cases, the families believed senior figures had kept them in the dark in order to cover their own backs. It was then revealed NHS chiefs had been spying on the relatives of dead patients.
The so-called “social listening” strategy involved prying on social media posts and monitoring criticism. One of their targets was Louise Slorance.
A boss at NHSGGC is also alleged to have referred to a “war” with the parents of children who became ill during the hospital infection scandal.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was right to raise these troubling issues at First Minister’s Questions. Patients have been let down and there is no place for this sort of Big Brother-style snooping.
When he was health secretary Humza Yousaf knew the importance of transparency in the NHS. Patients must have confidence that the higher-ups will provide them with information when serious incidents occur.
The board at NHSGGC must be sacked if the health board is to regain credibility.
Ferry protest
Islanders are being let down time and time again by Scotland’s ailing ferry network. That includes the residents of South Uist who face being scandalously cut off from their vital mainland link to Mallaig.
To cancel all sailings to the island for the rest of the month, just as summer is getting under way, is a hammer blow to local businesses and tourism.
No wonder they feel abandoned, and no wonder this tiny island population protested in their hundreds earlier this week.
As is not uncommon now, with CalMac’s ageing, creaking fleet, South Uist has lost its ferry so it can service another route in Islay, where the normal vessel is undergoing repairs.
It’s welcome that Humza Yousaf has vowed to consider compensating the affected firms. But frankly, that’s the least they deserve.
They, and all islanders, deserve a modern ferry service fit for the 21st century – and fit for purpose.
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