{"id":488423,"date":"2025-10-10T13:25:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T13:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/488423\/"},"modified":"2025-10-10T13:25:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T13:25:53","slug":"freeman-tells-inquiry-government-was-naive-in-hospital-oversight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/488423\/","title":{"rendered":"Freeman tells inquiry Government was \u2018naive\u2019 in hospital oversight"},"content":{"rendered":"

An inquiry was told Ms Freeman believed leaders at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) took a \u201cnothing to see here\u201d approach when concerns emerged about the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).<\/p>\n

The former SNP minister, who held the health portfolio between 2018 and 2021, gave evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry on Friday.<\/p>\n

She described a meeting in early 2019 with the health board\u2019s leaders which left her feeling they did not appreciate the \u201cseriousness\u201d of the situation.<\/p>\n

A few months earlier, the hospital was forced to \u201cdecant\u201d patients from some wards in response to a water contamination incident.<\/p>\n

\"ViewThe inquiry is examining the design and construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and the children\u2019s hospital on the same site (Jane Barlow\/PA)<\/p>\n

The inquiry has been examining the design and construction of the QEUH in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children, which are on the same campus.<\/p>\n

It was launched in the wake of deaths linked to infections, including that of 10-year-old Milly Main.<\/p>\n

Inquiry counsel Fred Mackintosh KC asked Ms Freeman about the nature of oversight on NHSGGC.<\/p>\n

He suggested there may have been a failure in the \u201coversight and scrutiny\u201d of the health board.<\/p>\n

Ms Freeman said: \u201cI\u2019m not sure I think it would be fair to say it\u2019s a failure of oversight and scrutiny.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it is naive of Government not to have that situation \u2013 to maintain that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Freeman said on the other hand, some had criticised her approach as health secretary as being too \u201ccentralist\u201d.<\/p>\n

The former health secretary said she had later set up an independent review into hospital infections.<\/p>\n

\n

The Inquiry will hear evidence from Jeane Freeman today. Follow live from 10:00 on our YouTube channel: https:\/\/t.co\/wZwwfYRKJX<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/r4AAiohzJG<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Scottish Hospitals Inquiry (@ScotHospInquiry) October 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

NHSGGC was moved into stage four of the Government\u2019s \u201cescalation framework\u201d in response to the infections issue in November 2018.<\/p>\n

The inquiry also heard about a meeting in early 2019, where Ms Freeman and senior Government officials spoke to the health board\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n

Written evidence from Ms Freeman showed she \u201ccame away from that meeting with a general impression of surprise and concern about NHSGGC\u2019s guardedness and downplaying of the importantness of the situation\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ms Freeman said she was taken aback by the fact the medical director asked her why she was attending the meeting \u2013 despite her being the health secretary at the time.<\/p>\n

Her written statement added: \u201cMy impression, at that time, was that there was a general \u2018nothing to see here\u2019 response from NHSGGC.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0inquiry, being held before Lord Brodie\u00a0in\u00a0Edinburgh, continues.<\/p>\n