Chief nurse suggested ‘Disneyland trips’ for fatal infection families at Glasgow Queen Elizabeth hospital, inquiry told

Scotland’s chief nursing officer suggested the NHS could have offered “Disneyland trips” to families affected by fatal hospital-acquired infections at Glasgow’s crisis-hit superhospital, an inquiry has heard.

A whistleblower claims that Fiona McQueen made the comment during a meeting with clinicians in 2019, according to her witness statement submitted to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.

The inquiry is looking into the contaminated water, inadequate ventilation system and the premature opening of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and the Royal Hospital for Children.

There are seven deaths which are being investigated over links to the hospital environment.

Ms McQueen, who was chief nursing officer during the opening of the super-hospital in 2015, is now chair of the Scottish Police Authority.

Dr Christine Peters, a consultant microbiologist at QEUH who was involved in infection control when the hospital opened, is one of a number of NHS whistleblowers who raised concerns about the hospital.

‘Appalled by comment’

Fiona McQueen was chief nursing officer during the opening of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Getty Images

Dr Peters and fellow whistleblower, Dr Penelope Redding, held talks with Ms McQueen at a Scottish Government building in Edinburgh in December 2019.

In her statement, Dr Peters said: “At one point she said that she couldn’t understand ‘why GGC had not just offered the families 50 grand which is a trip to Disneyland, rather than deny that there had been harm caused’.”

She added: “I thought that missed the point, which is that there was a safety hazard that had not been dealt with and just paying people off would neither fix the hazard nor the organisation’s culture in dealing with it.

“I was appalled by the sentiment because we weren’t there suggesting anyone should get compensation. We wanted the problem to be solved.”

Ms McQueen retired from nursing in 2020 and later became chair of the Scottish Police Authority. A spokesperson for Ms McQueen has been approached for comment.

Concerns about safety standards at the hospital have been repeatedly raised at Holyrood. An urgent question regarding Dr Peters’ statement has been submitted for Thursday.

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane described Ms McQueen’s comments as “grossly insulting and utterly delusional”.

“These remarks are absolutely disgusting”, he said.

“Grieving families will be furious that someone in such a senior position even thought of saying something so callous and offensive.

“Thinking a trip to Disneyland would have offered any comfort to them is grossly insulting and utterly delusional.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is investigating whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should face prosecution in relation to the deaths of several patients, including ten-year-old Milly Main and 73-year-old Gail Armstrong.

Last month, families of 18 children and adults affected by infections told the inquiry they believed they had been misled by the health board about the cause of illness and death.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry was launched after issues at the flagship site were linked to the deaths of two children, including Milly Cuddihy.

In 2025, an independent review found the fatalities were at least in part the result of infections linked to the hospital environment and the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board said it was clear the hospital was not ready when it opened in 2015.

The health board and the Scottish Government have denied that there was political pressure to open the hospital campus before it was ready.

The inquiry continues and no deadline has been set for the delivery of Lord Brodie’s findings.