A mother and father whose infant daughter tragically died at a scandal-hit hospital in Glasgow have expressed feelings of vindication following the resignation of a senior NHS official they allege offered them a £20,000 'bribe'. Theresa and Matthew Smith's baby Sophia passed away in 2017 after contracting a severe infection at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).
Allegations of Inappropriate Offer Emerge
The couple claim that when they raised serious concerns about their daughter's care and untimely death, Fiona McQueen, who served as Scotland's Chief Nursing Officer at the time, proposed financial compensation. According to the Smiths, McQueen suggested the money could be used to take their other children on a holiday and 'give them an ice cream to cheer them up'. This conversation allegedly occurred during a phone call after the parents voiced their grievances.
Swift Resignation Follows Public Accusation
Less than one month after the Smiths made these sensational allegations public in The Scottish Mail on Sunday, Fiona McQueen announced she was stepping down from her high-profile role as chair of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). She had been appointed to this quango position in 2022 following her retirement from the NHS in 2021. The SPA stated her departure was for 'personal and family reasons', but the parents view it as a significant development.
Theresa Smith, 45, welcomed the resignation, stating: 'Because of the way our family was treated, I believe Fiona McQueen is not fit for public office. No apology, no resignation, and certainly no bribe could ever make up for the loss of a child.' She added that the step-down 'is tantamount to an admission of guilt and shows the seriousness of the failures that occurred'.
Background of a Hospital Under Scrutiny
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, hailed as a superhospital when it opened in 2015, is currently the subject of an ongoing public inquiry. This investigation is examining persistently high levels of infection and patient deaths at the facility. In a notable admission earlier this year, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde conceded that contaminated water had likely caused serious infections in young cancer patients, reversing years of previous denials.
The Tragic Case of Baby Sophia
Sophia Smith was born at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley but was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Children on the QEUH campus due to breathing difficulties. Tragically, she then contracted a rare bloodstream infection that rapidly developed into sepsis. The infant died in April 2017, less than two weeks after her birth.
Following her death, her parents sought answers and raised concerns about the standard of care. It was during this process that they say Fiona McQueen contacted them. Mrs. Smith recounted the conversation: 'She apologised and said she was going to have to ask me to go through what happened to Sophia. I poured my heart out to her. She then asked if we were 'litigation-minded' and started saying things about how a baby's life is worth less than an adult.'
The mother continued: 'She said if you did go the litigation route, you'd only get up to – and kept emphasising 'up to' – £20,000. I said we didn't want money. She said 'Yeah, but you know, we could help you, we'll organise for you to take the kids on a nice holiday and £20,000. They can have some ice cream, and that will cheer them up.''
Official Denials and Email Correspondence
Subsequently, the Smiths emailed Ms. McQueen to express that they found the discussion inappropriate. In her response, McQueen apologised, stating: 'I have clearly misjudged our conversation; with the issue of money being put in the context of you indicating that you wanted answers and were not minded to take forwards litigation.' A spokesman for Fiona McQueen has previously stated that she 'strongly refutes any suggestions that she offered the Smiths money or a holiday'.
The Scottish Police Authority confirmed her immediate departure but declined to comment further, noting that Ms. McQueen had been approached for additional comment. For the Smith family, this resignation brings a measure of validation after years of seeking accountability. Mrs. Smith reflected: 'I feel vindicated that we finally were able to speak out about what happened to us, to Sophia, and Fiona McQueen has now gone.' The case underscores ongoing systemic issues within the NHS and the profound impact on families affected by hospital-acquired infections.
