Sturgeon's nursing chief quits police authority after 'disgusting' QEUH Disneyland comments
Fiona McQueen has quit after “disgusting” comments about the families of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital infections scandal.
Nicola Sturgeon’s chief nursing officer has quit as chairwoman of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) after she suggested grieving families in the hospital infection scandal should be offered a trip to Disneyland.
The SPA said Ms McQueen has stepped down due to personal and family reasons.
Last month, The Scotsman exclusively revealed that Ms McQueen made the comments, suggesting the heath board offer grieving families £50,000 or a “trip to Disneyland” to whistleblowers at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).
Dr Christine Peters, a consultant microbiologist at the QEUH who was an infection control doctor when the facility opened, revealed the remarks took place at a meeting with Ms McQueen in December 2019, weeks after the full picture of infections emerged at the Glasgow hospital.
Ms Peters and fellow whistleblower, Dr Penelope Redding, held talks with Ms McQueen at a Scottish Government building in Edinburgh.
In a written statement to the inquiry, Ms Peters said: “At one point she (McQueen) said that she couldn’t understand ‘why GGC had not just offered the families 50 grand which is a trip to Disneyland, rather than deny that there had been harm caused’.
Ms Peters told the inquiry she had been left “appalled” by Ms McQueen’s comments.
READ MORE: Swinney has confidence in Fiona McQueen despite 'Disneyland' comments amid 'bribery over truth' row
Scottish Labour leader told The Scotsman the comments were “jaw-dropping” while Scottish Conservative health spokesperson, Dr Sandesh Gulhane branded Ms McQueen’s remarks as “absolutely disgusting”.
Ms McQueen said she did not “recall” making the Disneyland remarks.
It was further reported by the Scottish Mail On Sunday that Ms McQueen had offered the parents of Sophia Smith £20,000 and a holiday during a 2019 phone call, after their baby daughter died at the QEUH in 2017.
First Minister John Swinney had backed Ms McQueen to continue as chairwoman of the SPA.
Scottish Labour deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, said: “Families affected by the QEUH scandal were put through hell and it is a scandal a Scottish government official tried to buy them off.
“Fiona McQueen’s resignation doesn’t change a thing – John Swinney and the SNP still have serious questions to answer about this shameful episode.
“Families deserve to know the truth about why the hospital was opened before it was safe, who participated in the cover-up that followed and whether the hospital is safe now.”
Dr Gulhane said: “This is the right decision, as Fiona McQueen’s position was completely untenable once her reported comments came to light.
“Suggesting that grieving families could be bought off with a trip to Disneyland isn’t just crass and insulting, it is sickening.
“The conduct of Nicola Sturgeon’s disgraced former chief nursing officer highlights the culture of secrecy at the heart of this SNP government in general, and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital scandal in particular."
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) confirmed Ms McQueen was stepping down with immediate effect for personal and family reasons.
Ms McQueen said: “It has been a privilege to serve on the Scottish Police Authority and to work alongside dedicated board colleagues and the leadership teams across policing in Scotland."
SNP Justice Secretary Angela Constance thanked McQueen for her "dedication, leadership and experience" at the SPA.
She added: "Her commitment to good governance, openness, transparency, and ensuring that people are at the heart of decision making has been central to the SPA's progress."
SPA vice-chairman Alasdair Hay will take on the role until a permanent replacement is appointed.
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