'Damning' evidence of political pressure to open scandal-hit hospital - Sarwar

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says he has "damning" evidence showing that political pressure was applied to rush the opening of the country's largest hospital despite safety fears.

Both the Scottish government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) have denied that the health board was pushed to open the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) before it was ready.

But speaking at First Minister's Questions, Sarwar produced government meeting notes stating that "political pressure" was felt by the health board.

John Swinney said a public inquiry commissioned by his government would explore such issues in full.

The Scottish Hospital Inquiry is looking into the design and construction of the QEUH complex in the wake of deaths linked to infections.

NHSGGC admitted recently that problems with the hospital water system probably did cause infections in child cancer patients - having initially denied this.

Earlier this month, the health board said that it was under pressure to open the QEUH before it was ready in 2015.

That sparked accusations from opposition MSPs that political pressure had been applied to open the flagship hospital ahead of the 2015 general election.

That has been denied by Swinney, as well as former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The health board clarified on Saturday evening that the pressure was internal.

However, Sarwar said minutes of meetings between Scottish government and health board officials in late 2019 and early 2020 showed that external pressure had been applied.

The notes, seen by BBC Scotland News, state that "political pressure" was being felt by the health board and that "no consideration was given to delaying the opening of the hospital despite the issues being faced with completion and operation".

Sarwar said the "damning" documents showed in "black and white" that there had been political pressure.

He told MSPs: "That decision to open the hospital early has resulted in a decade of lies, deceit and cover-up, bullying and gaslighting of staff, families being lied to and denied the truth and infections that led to the deaths of children and possibly adults too – all because politics was put before patient safety."

Swinney said that all of the issues would be explored in full by the inquiry, which is due to issue its final report.

Speaking after FMQs, Swinney denied that Sarwar had produced proof of political pressure.

He claimed that lead counsel to the hospital inquiry, Fred Mackintosh KC, had found no evidence of external pressure on the health board.

The first minister added that he had "every confidence" in the inquiry.