Swinney denies government pressure to open scandal-hit hospital

First Minister John Swinney has denied there was pressure from the Scottish government to rush the opening of the country's largest hospital despite safety fears about its water system.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said this week that pressure had been applied for the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) to open before it was ready.

The board also admitted infections of some child cancer patients were probably linked to a hospital water system.

Swinney - who was deputy first minister when the hospital opened in 2015 - denied that Nicola Sturgeon's government had applied pressure.

The SNP leader repeatedly rejected the claim at First Minister's Questions.

Families of patients who suffered or died after they caught infections while being treated at the QEUH have said they were "lied to", "demeaned" and "smeared".

Parents said they "warned for years" about issues with the water system.

NHSGGC has apologised to the patients and families affected, and said the hospital was now safe.

The first minister told MSPs that he was confident that the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which is hearing closing submissions, would provide "the truth that is required by the families and by everybody else".

Swinney has also faced opposition calls this week to release documents relating to the opening of the hospital.

He told MSPs he would be "happy" to release any relevant documents that had not already been passed to the inquiry.

Scottish Conservatives leader Russell Findlay urged the first minister to sack those at the health board who have been accused of "smearing" bereaved families.

The first minister said that operational responsibility lay with the health board.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar pointed to an internal report released before the opening of the children's hospital on the QEUH campus that warned of a high risk of infections "and therefore a high risk to life for immunocompromised patients".

Swinney said the Scottish government was not advised about the water contamination until 2018 - three years after the hospital opened.

Sarwar suggested there was either "negligence or criminal incompetence" if a report on the water system was not seen by ministers.

He said: "It was ignored, pressure was applied, and the hospital opened anyway, with devastating consequences.

"So who applied that pressure and why?"

The Glasgow MSP added: "For seven years, families have been lied to, whistleblowers have been bullied, gaslit and punished, and those who raised concerns were dismissed and patronised as pressure was applied to open the hospital before it was ready, even though it had contaminated water that risked lives."

After FMQs, the Swinney reiterated his view that the QEUH is now safe, and said he has confidence in the health board.

Anas Sarwar described this as the biggest scandal in the history of the parliament.

Russell Findlay picked up on what he called a bombshell admission from the health board that it was under pressure to open the hospital before it was ready.

Remember this was in advance of a general election in 2015. Having a big infrastructure project like a hospital open on time and on budget would have been politically important.

Findlay claimed the then first minister Nicola Sturgeon boasted about it.

So who pressured the health board?

The current First Minister John Swinney gave a direct answer, to a direct question when he was asked if it was anyone in the SNP government. He replied "No."

Ministers seem confident the public inquiry under Lord Brodie will get to the truth and provide answers to what they acknowledge are legitimate concerns about the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

But that won't be until after the Holyrood election.