Hospital Whistleblowers Still Await 'Genuine' Apology Over Infections Scandal
Three medical experts who raised critical concerns about infection risks at a major Scottish hospital remain without a "genuine" apology from health authorities, their legal representative has told a public inquiry. The doctors were treated in a "wholly unacceptable way" after attempting to highlight problems with the water supply at Glasgow's flagship Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).
Decade-Long Struggle for Recognition
Dr Teresa Inkster, Dr Christine Peters, and Dr Penelope Redding – all specialists in microbiology and infection control – maintain that necessary safety improvements at the Glasgow hospital remain insufficient. Their lawyer, Helen Watts KC, delivered closing submissions to Lord Brodie's Scottish Hospitals Inquiry in Edinburgh, revealing that despite recent admissions from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), the whistleblowers' concerns persist.
The inquiry has been investigating the design and construction of both the QEUH and the adjacent Royal Hospital for Children, following infection-related deaths including that of 10-year-old Milly Main in 2017. In written submissions, the health board acknowledged a probable "causal connection" between patient infections and the hospital environment, particularly the water system.
Inadequate Response from Health Authorities
While NHSGGC has offered a "sincere and unreserved apology" to affected patients and families, and maintains both hospitals are now safe, the whistleblowers argue this response falls short. Ms Watts emphasized that the apology appeared only at the inquiry's conclusion, after ten years of unacceptable treatment toward the doctors.
"A meaningful and a genuinely-felt apology is really important to the whistleblowers," she stated, clarifying that this wasn't about "personal or professional vanity" but about accountability. The doctors reportedly faced accusations of acting in bad faith, attention-seeking, and ignoring infection control principles from senior managers who remain employed by the health board.
Persisting Safety Concerns
The whistleblowers continue to express significant concerns about whether adequate changes have been implemented, particularly within the senior management of the infection prevention and control team at QEUH. Ms Watts noted that NHSGGC's apology addressed organizational culture rather than specific failings, and that a genuine apology from those responsible would demonstrate "real remorse and a real desire to learn from the serious mistakes of the past."
NHSGGC responded by reiterating their apology to patients and families, assuring that comprehensive measures have addressed past building defects and that ongoing maintenance and monitoring programs ensure safety. The board declined further comment while the inquiry continues.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between healthcare professionals raising safety issues and institutional responses, with implications for whistleblower protection and patient safety protocols across the NHS.
