QEUH: Safety review at flagship hospital after consultants raise alarm

Medics raised concerns of overcrowding and staff shortages

The safety and quality of care at one of Scotland’s flagship hospitals will be reviewed by an NHS watchdog following concerns initially flagged by consultants last year.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) will investigate the emergency department at the Queen Elizabeth University (QEUH) in Glasgow.

Concerns of overcrowding and staff shortages, which 29 consultants at the hospital said “seriously compromised” the safety of patients, were first raised in May 2023.

NHS Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

However, the watchdog apologised for its “shortcomings” in investigating the 18 months of evidence and failing to meet with any of the doctors.

It instead launched an investigation and spoke with senior executives at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) before closing it in August last year.

However, complaints in January this year were upheld that the doctors were not given the opportunity to discuss or present their evidence.

HIS has now confirmed the review with consider the full breadth of leadership, clinical, governance and operational issues, focusing on “how they may impact on the safety and quality of care”.

Robbie Pearson, chief executive of HIS, said: “The emergency department consultants at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital have expressed a range of concerns which they believe compromise their ability to provide safe, effective and person-centred care.

“This review will assess these issues to ensure a comprehensive and balanced assessment from all perspectives.

“The review will ensure the involvement of as wide a range of staff as possible – including the emergency department consultants – in order to build a complete picture of the issues facing the service.”

Mr Pearson offered his “sincere, unreserved apology” to consultants in March.

Meanwhile, First Minister Humza Yousaf said he was “frustrated” at how the complaints of patient safety were initially handed.

“Let me say unequivocally to staff that whoever they are within the health service, they should feel empowered to be able to raise complaints,” he added.

Jane Grant, chief executive of NHSGGC, said: “We will fully support the review by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and will continue to work with them and our staff to improve the patient experience at the QEUH.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray previously said he would meet with HIS to find out what went wrong.

He said it was of “critical importance” that medical professionals are able to raise such concerns, and the way the case was handled was “not acceptable”.

A letter from Mr Pearson to the consultants said: “I would like to offer my sincere, unreserved apology for our shortcomings in this matter and the clear distress they caused you all.”

He also offered an “assurance” that HIS will learn lessons as a result of the complaint.

Asked if it was the case that doctors in Scotland can expect complaints to be thoroughly investigated, Dr Hugh Pearson, the deputy chairman of BMA Scotland, said last week: “It doesn’t seem like it is.

“In this case, you’ve got 29 consultants, which I think is pretty much everyone who worked at that hospital at that level in A&E raising concerns about direct patient harm caused by overcrowding and staff shortages and not being listened to by hospital management.

“I think the sad reality is there are doctors across this country who will recognise this.”