Glasgow Families Accuse Swinney of Hiding Behind QEUH Inquiry Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Families claim their children suffer lifelong debilitating conditions, including severe stomach pain, incontinence, stunted growth, and hearing difficulties, from prolonged use of powerful prophylactic anti-infection drugs at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow.
• Parents accuse First Minister John Swinney of “hiding behind” the ongoing public inquiry led by Lord Brodie to avoid accountability.
• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar urged Swinney to establish a separate independent expert panel, not tied to the health board or government, to review each case individually.​
• Swinney refused to commit, stating he cannot prejudge the public inquiry’s outcome but will reflect on the suggestion.​
• Specific families highlighted: Mark (father of Charly), Charmaine Lacock (mother of Paige), and Neekah Rab (mother of nine-year-old Eshaal).​
• Charmaine Lacock stated: “Our children endure long-lasting side effects for years… Our children should have led healthy lives. Now, we have children with lifelong disabilities due to decisions made by the Scottish Government and the cover-up regarding prophylactic medications”.​
• Neekah Rab noted her daughter Eshaal suffers severe stomach pain, stunted growth, and hearing issues, demanding reassurance that the hospital is now safe and such drugs are no longer prescribed.​
• Mark asked via Sarwar: “Would ask Swin, how you sleep at night?”.​
• Swinney’s spokesperson said the First Minister will consider the request, seek advice, and is willing to meet families after review.​
• NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde expressed sorrow, stated they cannot comment on individuals but maintain transparency on medications; drugs are standard for immunocompromised patients.​
• Broader context: Ongoing statutory inquiry by Lord Brodie examines infections from tainted water and ventilation; linked to deaths including 10-year-old Milly Main (2017), 73-year-old Gail Armstrong (2019), and others.
• Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton accused Swinney of “hiding behind the inquiry to avoid accountability”.
• Swinney acknowledged a “cultural issue” in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, saying it “looks like” families were lied to, but deferred to Lord Brodie.
• Sarwar called QEUH issues “the biggest scandal in the history of the Scottish Parliament,” demanding investigations into Swinney, Nicola Sturgeon, and Shona Robison.​
• Police investigating multiple deaths (up to six: three adults, three children) as corporate homicide.​

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) February 26, 2026 – Families whose children were treated at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) have accused First Minister John Swinney of “hiding behind” an ongoing public inquiry, demanding a separate independent panel to probe the long-term use of powerful anti-infection drugs that they say left their youngsters with lifelong debilitating conditions.

Why Are Families Accusing Swinney of Hiding?

Parents directly confronted Swinney during a parliamentary session, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar relaying their pleas. As reported by BBC News, Sarwar conveyed Mark, father of affected child Charly, who asked: “would ask Swin, how you sleep at night?”. Sarwar pressed Swinney to form “a truly independent expert panel not tied to the Health Board or the government to evaluate each of these cases individually,” enabling families to “obtain the answers they seek and the truth they deserve”.​

Swinney responded by declining a firm commitment. According to the same report, he told Parliament: “Parliament has requested a public inquiry to be conducted, and as First Minister, I cannot prejudge its findings. This is a rational approach, but I will reflect on Mr. Sarwar’s point”. A First Minister’s spokesperson later stated Swinney would contemplate the request, seek advice, and meet families post-review, while stressing the inquiry’s role.​

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton echoed the criticism. As covered by BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show reporter, Hamilton accused Swinney of “hiding behind the inquiry to avoid accountability”.

What Debilitating Conditions Affect the Children?

Families detailed harrowing impacts from prophylactic drugs given amid infection risks at QEUH. Charmaine Lacock, mother of Paige, told journalists:

“Our children endure long-lasting side effects for years. When we consult other hospitals, their children do not experience the same issues. Our children should have led healthy lives. Now, we have children with lifelong disabilities due to decisions made by the Scottish Government and the cover-up regarding prophylactic medications. We need someone to investigate the long-term effects of these drugs administered to our kids without our consent”.​

Neekah Rab described her nine-year-old daughter Eshaal’s plight: severe stomach pain, stunted growth, and hearing difficulties from the medications. She demanded the First Minister “reassure people that the hospital is safe now” and clarify

“what measures are in place to ensure children are not still being prescribed these drugs?”.​

BBC reporting highlighted children suffering chronic stomach pain and incontinence. These stem from extended use of anti-infection prophylactics for cancer patients whose immune systems were compromised, amid past water contamination issues.

How Has Swinney Responded to the Scandal?

Swinney addressed the broader inquiry on BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show. As reported by BBC journalist, he commented:

“It’s evident that a cultural issue exists within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and the inquiry is essentially bringing this to light.”

He assured families:

“the government will take Lord Brodie’s findings very seriously and will act on his recommendations, emphasizing that the circumstances surrounding the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital are utterly unacceptable”.

Pressed on families being deceived, Swinney replied: “That does seem to be the case, but ultimately, it’s for Lord Brodie to reach those conclusions”. He described a “cultural problem” being “flushed out” by the inquiry.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has escalated calls. In a BBC interview, Sarwar labelled complications

“the biggest scandal in the history of the Scottish Parliament,”

accusing Swinney and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of a “conspiracy that resulted in catastrophic outcomes” and demanding their investigation alongside ex-health secretary Shona Robison.​

What Is the Role of the Lord Brodie Inquiry?

The statutory public inquiry, chaired by Lord Brodie since 2019, probes planning, design, construction, infections from tainted water and ventilation at QEUH and Royal Hospital for Children. It followed deaths like 10-year-old Milly Main’s in 2017 from a post-leukemia infection, and 73-year-old Gail Armstrong’s 2019 fungal infection.

Recent hearings ended after six years, initiated by former health secretary Jeane Freeman. The inquiry acknowledged infections in 84 child cancer patients—two fatal—from water systems. Police probe up to six deaths as corporate homicide.

What Does NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Say?

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde expressed regret. Their statement read:

“We are deeply sorry to learn about the distress these children and their families are facing following their illnesses. While cannot comment individual patient due to, consultants always maintain transparency with families regarding prescribed medications. Cancer treatments can significantly compromise the immune system, making patients more susceptible to severe infections”.​

They added:

“Prophylactic medications can be a standard part of care in such situations, as they help prevent life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. These drugs can be prescribed as part of routine clinical management related to an underlying condition or as a precaution if environmental concerns arise. The environment at the Royal Hospital for Children is safe, this medication to be to some as part of their medical treatment protocol”.​

What Other Political Reactions Emerge?

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay urged sacking those linked to the scandal. Anas Sarwar demanded publication of latest patient safety reviews for transparency.

Victim Molly Buddih, 23, testified: “I was made sicker by the environment,” before dying last August.​

What Is the Broader Context of QEUH Infections?

QEUH opened amid issues; 2018 water contamination led to ward closures, cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and others, delaying chemotherapy but no immediate deaths then. Fungal growth noted but no clinical cases.​

Prosecutors now investigate seven deaths. Families seek justice beyond the inquiry, fearing political interference.

This scandal underscores ongoing NHS challenges in Scotland, with calls for accountability intensifying as the inquiry nears conclusions.