News

On Wednesday 27 November the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry (SHI) hosted an online event with patients and families. Those who attended had previously assisted the Inquiry by either providing a statement, giving evidence at public hearings, or have been affected by the issues being investigated.

Secretary to the Inquiry David Anderson and Counsel to the Inquiry Fred Mackintosh gave an overview of progress so far, as well as outlining the SHI’s next steps and when it is hoped the final report will be published.

Wilma Johnson Graham of the Witness Engagement and Support Team also attended.

The briefing came 14 days after the conclusion of ‘Glasgow III’ hearings, which ran over twelve weeks and involved 54 witnesses. 

The following details were shared with attendees:

• It is hoped the remit of the Inquiry will be completed in the first half of 2026
• In order to achieve that timeline, Lord Brodie will concentrate on producing the final report
• To reach conclusions as timeously as possible, there will be no Interim Report following ‘Glasgow III’
• An oral closing hearing for ‘Glasgow III’ will be held in March next year and will allow Lord Brodie the opportunity to ask any further relevant questions of core participants' legal representatives
• ‘Glasgow IV’ will begin in April next year and run for five weeks, in which all remaining evidence necessary for the Inquiry to address its remit and terms of reference will be heard
• In preparation for the ‘Glasgow IV’ hearing two more Provisional Position Papers will be issued by the end of January 2025:
  • PPP15 On the governance issues that relate to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital/Royal Hospital for Children
  • PPP16 On the construction process and how key deficient features of the water and ventilation system were approved/happened
• Witnesses for ‘Glasgow IV’ will come from five groups:
  • NHS GGC Project Team
  • Contractors and consultants – focussing on people involved in the key decisions between 2009 and 2015
  • Remaining NHS GGC Board executive members
  • NSS including NHS Assure
  • Scottish Government 

David Anderson said to the attendees: “Please be assured the entire team is working as diligently as possible through the large amount of investigative work still to be completed, in order that the final report can be produced, and answers given to the questions that have been set.”