Swinney has confidence in Fiona McQueen despite 'Disneyland' comments amid 'bribery over truth' row

As reported by The Scotsman, Ms McQueen, when she was the Scottish Government’s chief nursing officer during the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) infections scandal, suggested the health board give families “50 grand which is a trip to Disneyland, rather than deny that there had been harm caused”.

Ms McQueen said she did “not recall” using that language.

A spokesman for the First Minister told The Scotsman that Mr Swinney has full confidence in Ms McQueen continuing as chair of the Scottish Police Authority.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon's nursing chief suggested QEUH families offered 'trip to Disneyland' after fatal infections

Asked about the remarks, the spokesman added: “That’s not language the First Minister would use.”

The comments were raised by Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, at First Minister’s Questions, who argued the Scottish Government should be ashamed of “bribes rather than truth and justice”, following Ms McQueen’s remarks, which he has branded “jaw-dropping”.

Mr Sarwar added: “The Scottish Government’s instinct was to close ranks and cover up, and nowhere is this clearer than a senior official, the chief nursing officer appointed by (then health secretary) Shona Robison and the SNP, saying she could not understand why Greater Glasgow and Clyde had not just offered the families 50 grand, which is a trip to Disneyland.

“Shameful, utterly shameful, and it’s a shame (on) every member in the SNP Government and on the SNP benches, bribes rather than truth and justice.

“The pain this government has inflicted on these families is through the roof. So enough, finally stop the denials and the cover-up.”

He called on the First Minister to “stop the gaslighting of the families and the whistleblowers and the staff, and for once, just be honest”.

READ MORE: SNP 'ignored vital warnings' at QEUH after infection alert over ceiling leak sent year earlier than claimed

Mr Sarwar also produced evidence, reported by The Scotsman earlier this week, that shows the Scottish Government received red warnings about infections linked to the fabric of the building as far back as March 2017, 12 months before Mr Swinney has insisted wider issues with the QEUH were brought to the government’s attention.

Mr Sarwar said: “This was Scotland’s newest and largest hospital and Shona Robison and the Scottish Government got 14 alerts about infections between 2015 and 2018”.

“Warning after warning was sent to the SNP government and met with inaction, and people died as a result.”

In response, Mr Swinney accused the Scottish Labour leader of “direct political interference” after Mr Sarwar, a Glasgow MSP, wrote to Lord Brodie who is chairing the inquiry into the fatal infections, suggesting he ask ministers to answer questions after evidence surfaced that political pressure was put on the health board to open the hospital before it was ready.

Mr Swinney said: “I am horrified by the suffering of the families that have been affected by the losses in relation to the water contamination issues at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

“That is why this government set up a public inquiry, so that Lord Brodie could undertake all the examination of the evidence, to look at all of the issues that are involved, and to give the truth to the families involved.

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“Mr Sarwar for a week has basically attacked my personal integrity and it is unrelenting what Mr Sarwar is doing, and it is a sign of total desperation by Mr Sarwar in how he is conducting himself.

“Mr Sarwar has written a letter to Lord Brodie. I am appalled by its contents. It is direct political interference in the conduct of an independent inquiry, and Mr Sarwar should be ashamed of himself.”

Despite Mr Swinney’s allegations, the inquiry has already asked the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board for more details on political pressure it was put under to open the hospital before it was ready.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry said: “The Inquiry has written to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde asking it explain further a statement that was included in its closing submission.

“NHS GGC wrote that ‘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’.

“The Inquiry has asked for reference to documentary evidence and other evidence on which the statement was based.”