Latest news with #QEUH
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
We owe it to Milly Main to give power to NHS patients instead of health board bosses
In his regular column for the Record, the Scottish Labour leader vows to continue his campaign for justice for Milly Main's family. This week marks a decade since the opening of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. There is no doubt that so many amazing lifesaving treatments have been performed by exceptional NHS staff over that decade, but all has not been well. Soon after opening, it became clear that the hospital had major issues that needed to be addressed, with people being put at risk. Whistleblowers raised concerns over a breakdown in communications, issues related to the water supply and risks posed by potential hospital-acquired infections. In response, the health board and Scottish Government flatly denied that there were any issues. Gradually a scandal of enormous and deadly significance was uncovered. The uncovering of this scandal was down to the intrepid journalism of this newspaper, but also the result of the testimony of brave families seeking answers and of NHS staff who were not willing to stand by and do nothing. I first became aware of serious issues when I was contacted by whistleblowers working at the QEUH. They described to me in great detail the issues with the water supply, the scale of infections in immunocompromised children and that there had been tragically at least two deaths of children as a result. These issues had been raised with the board leadership who rather than take action chose to deny it, bully the staff and cover it up instead. Most shockingly of all they told me that the parents of the two children that had lost their lives had not been told the true cause of their deaths. That shook me to my core. Imagine that was me or one of my loved ones. This couldn't be allowed to happen. I had to do something. One of those children was ten year old Milly Main, a young girl full of charm and light, who was in remission and looking forward to getting home when she acquired a deadly infection and died in the QEUH. Milly's mum Kimberley Darroch, one of the most inspiring people I have ever met in my life, read that I had raised the scandal at First Minister's Questions. She believed that one of those children may be Milly. Kimberley contacted me and from that day in 2017 it has been my honour to stand with her and her family in their fight for justice. And what we uncovered is nothing short of the biggest scandal in the history of devolution. In the face of cover up and denial from the health board and disinterest from the SNP government, Milly's family and other campaigners have fought tirelessly for justice. And what has been revealed? Serious mistakes and oversights that led to the opening of the hospital despite reports clearly stating infection of the hospital's water supply - with deadly bugs detected in the water system and cryptococcus from pigeon droppings. This led to serious infection outbreaks and played a role in the death not only of Milly but of several other patients. And as the health board fought against transparency, the full details of their failure became apparent. Serious warnings were missed or ignored. Senior clinicians who raised the alarm were subject to bullying. And the concerns of families and patients were ignored to save the health board's leadership blushes. This is scandalous. But while these families fought tenaciously for justice, they were also failed by an SNP government that at first denied any issues at the hospital and going on to defend the health board leaders at every turn. The health board is now the subject of a corporate homicide investigation. The first time in Scottish history. We can never again allow patients and victims to be ignored and dismissed by an out of touch bureaucracy and a government that is indulging in cover-up. That's why - as First Minister - I will introduce Milly's Law to put power into the hands of families. Our plans would fundamentally re-balance the power between families and the powers that be. And our plans would create an independent public advocate with the authority to investigate incidents to establish the truth. We owe it to Milly all the families impacted to deliver justice. Greedy touts are ripping off music fans This summer, thousands of music fans will have been making the most of the good weather watching their favourite artists at festivals such as TRNSMT and Glastonbury. And in just a few weeks', Oasis will be taking to the stage at Murrayfield in Edinburgh as they embark on their long-awaited comeback tour. But, while these events are the highlight of the summer for many, unfortunately greedy ticket touts are snapping up tickets and flogging them for extortionate amounts. We saw this earlier this month when tickets for Lewis Capaldi's upcoming tour went on sale and were quickly being sold on for more than £400. This is unacceptable, and it is why the UK Labour Government is taking action on this issue by clamping down on ruthless touts gaming the system. The UK Labour government has set out plans to cap resale prices and ban ticket hoarding – actions that will benefit not only music fans, but sports fans, here in Scotland. This will ensure that Scots are not left out of pocket by unscrupulous ticket sellers and are not priced out of big events that they can enjoy with their friends and family. A UK Labour government putting Scottish concertgoers first.
STV News
17-06-2025
- Health
- STV News
Genetic testing study 'could help personalise treatments for patients'
A new study aims to show how genetic testing could help personalise treatments by boosting medication response and reducing harmful side effects. The landmark trial will recruit up to 4,000 patients over the next two years in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, to investigate how an individual's genetic profile affects their response to 60 common medications. It is hoped the Phoenix Study will to lead to wider implementation of genetic testing across Scotland, making 'precision medicine' routine, for the first time. Researchers hope it will pave the way for tailored prescribing across cardiology, stroke, surgery, orthopaedics, geriatrics, gynaecology, ENT, rheumatology, respiratory, neurology, psychiatry and other specialities. The trial will take place at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) – the study of how genes influence individual responses to drugs – has not been routinely used in clinical practice in the UK, amid hopes evidence will lead to change. Genetic test results will be sent to clinicians, allowing for treatment decisions to be adjusted, and patients will be followed up regularly to monitor the effects of any changes, to ensure they receive the highest standard of care. Patients will undergo a simple genetic test to analyse their DNA and the results, returned within days, will help doctors determine whether each patient is receiving the most suitable drug and dosage based on their genetic make-up. Around 15% are expected to carry genetic variants that may reduce the effectiveness of a medication or increase the risk of side-effects. In some cases, the prescribed drug may be ineffective, or a different dosage may be needed. The trial is open to adult in-patients in the QEUH and patients will be randomly assigned to either receive the pharmacogenomic test immediately, or at three months, which will allow the researchers to establish evidence of benefit. Without prior testing, these issues can go unnoticed, often leading to a trial-and-error approach to treatment, according to researchers. It is led by Sandosh Padmanabhan, Pontecorvo chair of Pharmacogenomics at the University of Glasgow, in partnership with the University of Glasgow's Living Laboratory, the NHSGGC-hosted West of Scotland Innovation Hub, and industry partners MyDNA and Agena Bioscience. Patient Eric Balish was asked to take part by consultants, after having a heart attack and subsequent surgery. He was immediately prescribed clopidogrel, one of the 60 drugs included in the study, but has since had his medication changed a number of times. Mr Balish said: 'I knew a bit about personalised medicine previously, and so when I was asked to take part in the Phoenix Study I was happy to do it. 'If you're asked to participate and support long-term research like this, then it's no great hardship to give something back and just do the right thing. I am hopeful my information can be of use to the trial and in the future.' Prof Padmanabhan, a consultant at the QEUH, said: 'Physicians and pharmacists increasingly recognise that PGx-informed prescribing and dispensing improves both the efficacy and safety of drug treatment. 'The primary goal of this trial is to evaluate the clinical and health-economic impact of PGx-guided prescribing. 'Specifically, we want to determine if a PGx-guided approach to prescribing can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of drug related side-effects and/or treatment failures. 'This evaluation will compare the outcomes of participants who receive PGx-guided medication management to those receiving standard care.' Dr Katriona Brooksbank, research and innovation lead for NHSGGC and the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, said: 'We are incredibly excited to be supporting this trial, which could have a major impact on the treatments patients are prescribed based on their own genetics. 'It will put precision medicine into action as researchers look to determine how a person's own genetic make-up can affect the drugs they are given as treatments. 'This could allow clinicians to reduce adverse reactions and side effects, ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients.' Allan Sheffield, co-founder of MyDNA, said: 'For MyDNA, the Phoenix Study embodies the future of healthcare. 'Our unique combination of pharmacogenomic clinical decision support and in-house Gene by Gene accredited testing empowers clinicians to move beyond guesswork. 'This trial will demonstrate the profound impact of precision medicine, paving the way for a future where this approach routinely drives better patient outcomes.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
ITV News
16-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Genetic testing study to boost medication response starts in Glasgow
A new study aims to show how genetic testing could help personalise treatments by boosting medication response and reducing harmful side effects. The landmark trial will recruit up to 4,000 patients over the next two years in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, to investigate how an individual's genetic profile affects their response to 60 common medications. It is hoped the Phoenix Study will to lead to wider implementation of genetic testing across Scotland, making 'precision medicine' routine, for the first time. Researchers hope it will pave the way for tailored prescribing across cardiology, stroke, surgery, orthopaedics, geriatrics, gynaecology, ENT, rheumatology, respiratory, neurology, psychiatry and other specialities. The trial will take place at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) – the study of how genes influence individual responses to drugs – has not been routinely used in clinical practice in the UK, amid hopes evidence will lead to change. Genetic test results will be sent to clinicians, allowing for treatment decisions to be adjusted, and patients will be followed up regularly to monitor the effects of any changes, to ensure they receive the highest standard of care. Patients will undergo a simple genetic test to analyse their DNA and the results, returned within days, will help doctors determine whether each patient is receiving the most suitable drug and dosage based on their genetic make-up. Around 15% are expected to carry genetic variants that may reduce the effectiveness of a medication or increase the risk of side-effects. In some cases, the prescribed drug may be ineffective, or a different dosage may be needed. The trial is open to adult in-patients in the QEUH and patients will be randomly assigned to either receive the pharmacogenomic test immediately, or at three months, which will allow the researchers to establish evidence of benefit. Without prior testing, these issues can go unnoticed, often leading to a trial-and-error approach to treatment, according to researchers. It is led by Sandosh Padmanabhan, Pontecorvo chair of Pharmacogenomics at the University of Glasgow, in partnership with the University of Glasgow's Living Laboratory, the NHSGGC-hosted West of Scotland Innovation Hub, and industry partners MyDNA and Agena Bioscience. Patient Eric Balish was asked to take part by consultants, after having a heart attack and subsequent surgery. He was immediately prescribed clopidogrel, one of the 60 drugs included in the study, but has since had his medication changed a number of times. Mr Balish said: 'I knew a bit about personalised medicine previously, and so when I was asked to take part in the Phoenix Study I was happy to do it. 'If you're asked to participate and support long-term research like this, then it's no great hardship to give something back and just do the right thing. I am hopeful my information can be of use to the trial and in the future.' Prof Padmanabhan, a consultant at the QEUH, said: 'Physicians and pharmacists increasingly recognise that PGx-informed prescribing and dispensing improves both the efficacy and safety of drug treatment. 'The primary goal of this trial is to evaluate the clinical and health-economic impact of PGx-guided prescribing. 'Specifically, we want to determine if a PGx-guided approach to prescribing can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of drug related side-effects and/or treatment failures. 'This evaluation will compare the outcomes of participants who receive PGx-guided medication management to those receiving standard care.' Dr Katriona Brooksbank, research and innovation lead for NHSGGC and the West of Scotland Innovation Hub, said: 'We are incredibly excited to be supporting this trial, which could have a major impact on the treatments patients are prescribed based on their own genetics. 'It will put precision medicine into action as researchers look to determine how a person's own genetic make-up can affect the drugs they are given as treatments. 'This could allow clinicians to reduce adverse reactions and side effects, ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients.' Allan Sheffield, co-founder of MyDNA, said: 'For MyDNA, the Phoenix Study embodies the future of healthcare. 'Our unique combination of pharmacogenomic clinical decision support and in-house Gene by Gene accredited testing empowers clinicians to move beyond guesswork. 'This trial will demonstrate the profound impact of precision medicine, paving the way for a future where this approach routinely drives better patient outcomes.'
Daily Record
08-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
NHS chiefs gave £250k bonus to firm behind infection scandal QEUH hospital
Brookfield Multiplex, which is now being sued by NHS Greater Glasgow, was awarded the huge sum for making the hospital environmentally friendly. Health chiefs gave a £250,000 eco-bonus to a firm it is now suing over its defective superhospital. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) paid Brookfield Multiplex for achieving certain environmental credentials at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), despite the site being riddled with problems. A public inquiry is looking at issues with the construction of the £842million facility where dozens of patients developed rare infections and some people died. Evidence heard by the inquiry showed a £250,000 payment was included in the contract if the developers hit energy consumption targets, known as 'Breeam'. The QEUH was given a Breeam rating of 'excellent' when it was finished, meeting the UK-wide government aim at the time. Louise Slorance's government advisor husband Andrew died while awaiting a bone marrow transplant in 2020. She said: 'Families have suffered harm and death as a result of substandard systems at the QEUH. 'The realisation the lives of our loved ones were worth just £250,000 is yet another gut punch.' To meet their targets contractors used a temperature control system called chilled beams. Specialist healthcare architect Emma White described it as 'a more innovative and sustainable way of cooling rooms which required less energy…'. The inquiry previously heard these chilled beams developed a problem with leaking and water ended up dripping into wards. NHSGGC is suing Brookfield Multiplex for the flaws at the site with £18.2million added to their compensation claim for problems with the chilled beam system. Documents submitted by White showed contractors also agreed having an air circulation rate required by healthcare watchdogs was 'energy intensive and not necessary'. Dozens of patients were infected with water-related and airborne bugs at the QEUH. Some died including Milly Main, 10, and Gail Armstrong, 73, whose deaths are being probed by the police. NHSGGC is a suspect in the corporate homicide probe into their deaths and the deaths of two other patients. Louise said: 'Despite some witnesses stating green standards were not prioritised over patient safety, our experience tells a different story. "Sealed windows, low air turnovers and temperature control units using water were chosen for their environmental credentials yet they negatively impacted on the safety of our family members. Some never saw outside the hospital again and for others, the harm continues to this day.' Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'The deaths at the QEUH are the worst scandal in the history of devolution and it is outrageous that the contractors behind the building were rewarded for their failure. These payments make it clear the management of this project was utterly dysfunctional from day one and building safety was not made a priority. 'There can be no more secrecy and cover-up from the SNP – bereaved families and the Scottish public deserve to know the truth.' NHSGGC said matters relating to QEUH's construction are 'part of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry and we continue to support them in their ongoing investigations'. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Glasgow Queen Elizabeth hospital had most Covid deaths probed by Crown Office
Prosecutors are probing the deaths at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital as part of a wider investigation from the pandemic. A Glasgow flagship hospital had the highest number of Covid deaths probed by the Crown Office, it has been revealed. Prosecutors are probing the deaths at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital as part of a wider investigation from the pandemic. As well as hospital settings, care homes are also being looked into. NHS Glasgow Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been warned that it has questions to answer about why such a significant number of Covid deaths are being probed at its hospitals. A total of 133 cases are still being looked at - a 43% of the entire total. Louise Slorance, whose husband Andrew died at the QEUH in 2020 after contracting Covid during cancer treatment, is still seeking answers from the health board about his death. She blames them for him catching the disease despite being in isolation. She wrote on X: "COPFS Covid deaths investigation team (CDIT) statistics on COVID deaths in hospitals offer some important insights, namely on our largest health board, NHS GGC & the effectiveness of @scotgov flagship super hospital, the QEUH. 43% of the death investigations being carried out by CDIT are in NHS GGC hospitals. "30% of these deaths occurred at the QEUH. The QEUH has just 22% of GGC's bed capacity. The disproportionate nature of QEUH COVID deaths is only exacerbated when you consider this is a single bedded hospital. As the Project Director for the #QEUH told the @ScotHospInquiry last week single rooms are the optimum for stopping the transfer of infection. "Single bedrooms alone should have led to lower nosocomial COVID infection. Add in state of the art facilities (that's what we were told, not what was provided) & COVID mitigations, the expectation must be a lower rate than other older hospitals & the lowest across Scotland. "Yet here we are with Scotland's flagship QEUH hospital with the highest number of COVID deaths reported to COPFS and, CDIT investigations second only to another GGC ran hospital the GRI. Explanations must be provided for this anomaly." NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "We would like to offer our condolences to the loved ones of any patient who has died. As well as looking after a core population of more than 1.3 million, hospitals across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde offer a range of highly specialised regional and national services for people throughout Scotland. "This means that a high proportion of the sickest patients in the country are treated at our hospitals, and we would like to thank our highly skilled and dedicated staff who do all they can to care for these patients in challenging circumstances. "Latest Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio figures from Public Health Scotland show that, despite looking after this high concentration of the most vulnerable patients, NHSGGC has the lowest crude mortality rate of any health board in Scotland outside NHS Shetland. "Any suggestion that COVID deaths at our hospitals could be attributed to any issues with the standard of care, without taking into account this high concentration of these most vulnerable patients, would be inaccurate and misleading, as well as being insulting and upsetting for our hard-working staff."
