Mother of girl who died at flagship hospital wants answers

The mother of a 10-year-old girl who died at a flagship hospital hopes a a forthcoming public inquiry will reveal the truth about what happened.

Milly Main died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow three years ago.

She had leukaemia from the age of five, but was in remission in 2017 before contracting an infection and dying a short time later.

A public inquiry into her death starts on Monday and Kimberley Darroch, who believes her daughter’s death was down to contaminated water at the site, says it “must uncover the truth” about the hospital’s failings.

The inquiry will examine issues at the Glasgow campus and the mothballed Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh.

Miley’s death certificate listing a stenotrophomonas infection of the Hickman line – a catheter used to administer drugs – as a cause of death.

The family say they were not told about the link to contaminated water problems at the hospital.

Ms Darroch, 36, from Lanark, said: “Nearly three years since Milly died, we feel the heart-breaking loss of our daughter every day and feel we’re still in the dark about her death.

“Having been let down by the health board, we hope the public inquiry will uncover the truth about what happened at the hospital – not just for us but for all the families affected, and to ensure no other family ever has to go through what we went through.”

Labour MSP for Glasgow Anas Sarwar said families must be at the heart of the investigation.

He said: “There is a huge amount of pressure on this public inquiry, which must deliver answers for parents, patients and the public.

“The catastrophic failures at the QEUH, and the associated problems with the Sick Kids in Edinburgh, are a national tragedy.

“There has been a complete loss of public trust in the Glasgow health board, which engaged in a disgraceful cover-up with the water contamination problems only coming to light because of the bravery of NHS clinicians.

“Success or failure of this inquiry will depend on getting answers for Milly’s parents and all the families affected.”

An independent review by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) into the water supply confirmed contamination of the system in 2018.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said in a statement: “We are truly sorry that we have not been able to provide Milly’s family with satisfactory responses to the questions that remain unanswered for them and recognise the additional distress this has resulted in.

“We welcome the forthcoming public inquiry and are committed to participating fully in that process.”