In light of public scrutiny regarding the management of infection outbreaks at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), the Director of Communications at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Sandra Bustillo, has vehemently denied any intentions of ‘deliberate concealment’ or ‘misrepresentation’ of the events involved. The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, currently examining the construction of the QEUH campus, came under scrutiny after several patient fatalities, included that of 10-year-old Milly Main, elicited concerns about the hospital’s infection prevention measures as well as communication transparency.
After major infection outbreaks led to the closure of child cancer wards in 2018, the patients were relocated to the adult hospital for water and ventilation system upgrades. Certain families accused the health board of withholding crucial information about the severity of hospital-related issues since its inauguration in 2015.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) invested £8.9m in ventilation system enhancements post-Ms. Main’s death, contributing to the total £840m spent on the hospital. Throughout this period, Sandra Bustillo reiterated that staff maintained a diligent effort towards openness and transparency while corresponding with patient families and media about the recorded infection incidents. Developing communicative statements often necessitated extensive discussions with clinicians, senior staff, and representatives from the Scottish Government.
According to Ms. Bustillo, occasional delays in data release led to undue criticism accusing the hospital of opacity. She attested that neither she nor her team had a part in, or were aware of, any intentional concealment or misrepresentation in NHSGGC’s public communications. However, she acknowledged the harm caused by leaks of internal documents to journalists and politicians, which undermined trust and sparked unwarranted cover-up allegations. This leak eventually contributed to the health board’s addition to special measures. NHSGGC was subject to the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework by the Scottish Government due to communication flaws and infection prevention and control.
In response to inquiries about NHSGGC’s ‘social listening’ of certain figures, including the widow of a senior government official who passed away from Covid in the hospital, Ms. Bustillo claimed she had consulted with other health boards about social listening technology. Although three other boards procured the technology, none utilized it and no individuals are presently tracked. As the process unravels in Edinburgh, the inquiry continues.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/health-board-comms-chief-denies-175544593.html