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HOSPITALS INQUIRY ANNOUNCES DATES FOR HEARINGS

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry will hold public hearings in September 2021 to hear from affected patients and families.

The independent Inquiry is investigating the construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus (QEUH) in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences (RHCYP/DCN) in Edinburgh.

Scheduled to start on 20 September and planned to last around three weeks, the hearings will be an opportunity for those who have been affected by issues at the hospitals to share their experiences.

Lord Brodie, Chair of the Inquiry, said: “The first priority of the Inquiry is to understand the experiences of affected patients and their families and this evidence will be crucial. As such, it is the focus of our first series of hearings this autumn.

“When I launched the Inquiry last year, I asked that anyone who wished to share their experiences to make contact. I am pleased to say we have already had some positive conversations with stakeholders and I urge anyone else who thinks they can contribute to get in touch with the Inquiry team as soon as possible.”

Relevant information can be shared by calling the Inquiry’s dedicated phone line on 0808 196 5000. Further contact details are available on the website: www.hospitalsinquiry.scot

Today’s announcement lays out the steps to the September hearings:

• Step one is a virtual meeting hosted by Lord Brodie in March to set out the Inquiry’s priorities, explaining its various stages and updating on progress so far.
• Step two, which is currently underway, is for members of the Inquiry team to speak with affected patients and families to capture their experiences.
• Step three is for the Inquiry team to work with affected patients and families to formalise their statements if they are asked to do so.
• Step four is a procedural hearing in June, where Lord Brodie will set out the details of how the autumn hearings will operate.

More information on the March meeting will be published on the Inquiry’s website www.hospitalsinquiry.scot in the coming weeks.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry will determine how issues relating to adequacy of ventilation, water contamination and other matters impacted on patient safety and care and whether these issues could have been prevented.

It will also examine the impacts of these issues on patients and their families and whether the buildings provide a suitable environment for the delivery of safe, effective care. It will make recommendations to ensure any past mistakes are not repeated in future NHS infrastructure projects.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Graham McKendry or Naomi Clark
3x1 Group
Tel: 07931 382 270 / 07771 898426
SHI@3x1.com