Grieving Parents Accuse SNP Nursing Chief of Offering £20,000 Bribe After Baby's Tragic Death
A heartbroken family has made shocking allegations that Scotland's former Chief Nursing Officer offered them a £20,000 payment and a holiday following the death of their newborn baby at Glasgow's troubled Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Theresa and Matthew Smith claim that Fiona McQueen, who served as Nicola Sturgeon's Chief Nursing Officer, made the cash offer during a late-night phone call discussing their daughter Sophia's tragic passing.
Late-Night Phone Call and Alleged Bribery Attempt
The couple say the conversation occurred in early 2019 after they had emailed former health secretary Jeane Freeman expressing concerns about their daughter's death. According to Mrs Smith, 45, Ms McQueen called at 10.40pm and listened sympathetically as she recounted the devastating loss of their 12-day-old daughter. The situation allegedly turned when Mrs Smith mentioned how Sophia's death had affected their other children.
"She then asked if we were 'litigation-minded' and started saying things about how a baby's life is worth less than an adult," Mrs Smith recalled. "She said if you did go the litigation route, you'd only get up to - and kept emphasising 'up to' - £20,000."
When the parents stated they didn't want money, they claim Ms McQueen responded: "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."
Corroborating Evidence from Hospital Inquiry
The Smiths' allegations come just days after similar claims emerged at the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. Consultant microbiologist Dr Christine Peters testified that Ms McQueen had suggested in a 2019 meeting that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should have "just offered the families 50 grand, which is a trip to Disneyland, rather than deny that there had been harm caused" regarding infection concerns at the hospital.
While Ms McQueen told the inquiry she "didn't recall" using those exact words and has received backing from First Minister John Swinney, the Smiths say Dr Peters' evidence provides crucial corroboration of their own experience.
Tragic Circumstances of Sophia's Death
Sophia Smith died on April 11, 2017, when she was just 12 days old. Born at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, she was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at the Royal Hospital for Children due to breathing problems. The infant contracted a rare bloodstream infection that developed into sepsis, dying less than two weeks after birth.
Her parents have spent years seeking answers about how their daughter contracted the infection, facing what they describe as a pattern of denial and obstruction from authorities.
Email Exchange and Subsequent Denials
Following the phone call, the Smiths sent an email to Ms McQueen on February 14, 2019, expressing their shock at the discussion of litigation and monetary compensation. The nursing chief responded with an apology, writing: "I am very sorry that I clearly strayed into an area that was inappropriate for you."
However, when approached recently at her home in Ayr, Ms McQueen, now chairwoman of the Scottish Police Authority, claimed the email exchange "didn't exist" and stated: "Under no circumstances was any offer of compensation made by me." She later issued a statement saying her thoughts remained with Sophia's family but would not comment further while the inquiry continues.
Broader Hospital Infection Scandal
The allegations emerge against the backdrop of a major infection scandal at the £1 billion Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus. Last month, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde admitted there was probably a "causal connection" between contaminated water and infections in some child cancer patients, after denying any link for seven years.
A Scottish Government-commissioned review five years ago found two children's deaths were likely caused, in part, by infections contracted from the hospital environment. The health board is now named in a corporate homicide probe investigating four patient deaths, while police are examining three other fatalities involving rare infections.
Political Reactions and Calls for Accountability
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar described the Smiths' claims as "heartbreaking" and condemned what he called a "callous government obsessed with cover up." He stated: "Families deserve truth and justice - not bribes. They have been put through indescribable pain with the loss of loved ones at the QEUH."
Mr Smith, 56, expressed relief at finally receiving corroboration for their claims, saying: "From our point of view, [Dr Peters' evidence] gives us the corroboration and the vindication of exactly what we were saying in 2019. We were being told we were just scaremongering and lying."
The couple maintains they never sought financial compensation, only answers about how their daughter died and why proper infection controls weren't in place at Scotland's flagship hospital.
