A tragic story of a young life cut short and a scandal that has left families devastated. This is the heart-wrenching tale of Molly Cuddihy and the fight for recognition and justice.
'Molly never got to hear it' - these words echo the pain and frustration felt by her family and many others affected by the Glasgow hospital infections. A story that began with a brave teenager's battle against cancer and ended with a shocking revelation of institutional failures.
Molly, at just 15, was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. Her treatment journey took her to the Royal Hospital for Children and the adjacent Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), both now at the center of a six-year public inquiry. During her chemotherapy, Molly contracted a bacterial infection at QEUH, an environment that, as she put it, "made her sicker."
Her father, John, described the clinical care as "world-class," but the basic safety measures were lacking. He highlighted how a critically ill teenager like Molly could see the issues with the hospital building as early as 2018.
But here's where it gets controversial... After years of denial, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde finally admitted that serious infections in 84 child cancer patients, resulting in two deaths, were likely caused by a contaminated water system at QEUH. This admission, coming after years of suffering for the families, caused further pain, with John stating, "The fact that Molly never got to hear those words is even more painful."
Molly's story took a tragic turn as the powerful drugs used to combat the infections, on top of her cancer treatment, irreparably weakened her organs. She passed away last August, leaving her family to continue her fight for recognition.
During the public inquiry's concluding submissions, John attended on Molly's behalf, witnessing dramatic U-turns in the health board's position. One shocking revelation was that the hospital building was not ready for opening in April 2015, just before the general election, with the SNP boasting about a major NHS construction project.
The health board admitted that they faced pressure to open the hospital on time and on budget, despite tests in 2014 highlighting microbes in the water supply. They also acknowledged that they lacked adequate staffing for the new campus.
And this is the part most people miss... The health board previously dismissed whistleblowers who raised concerns about infection control, calling them "attention-seeking." Now, they admit that this was unfair.
Senior microbiologists who tried to expose these failings pointed out that the apology didn't address the behavior of senior management, who had ignored their concerns for over a decade.
As the week progressed, the families' shock turned into anger. In a powerful closing statement, they described being lied to, disbelieved, and smeared by the health board. Some were the first parents to speak out about the inadequate answers they received when their children's specialist ward was suddenly closed.
"We were all told: There is nothing to see here," they said, highlighting the deceit and cowardice displayed by the health board. They called for the leadership of GGCH to face consequences and warned that QEUH is not a safe hospital, with the current leadership untrustworthy to make it so.
This sentiment was echoed by whistleblowers, who expressed significant concerns about the changes instigated by senior management.
Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, described this as the biggest scandal in Scottish parliamentary history. He suggested a cover-up that reaches the highest levels, calling for criminal investigations into Scottish government ministers, including Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney.
Sarwar has campaigned alongside Kimberly Darroch, whose 10-year-old daughter, Milly Main, died after contracting an infection while recovering from leukemia treatment.
With investigations ongoing, NHSGCC faces corporate homicide charges for the deaths of Milly, two other children, and a 73-year-old woman at the hospital campus. Prosecutors are also investigating Molly's death.
During a heated session of first minister's questions, Sarwar demanded answers from John Swinney about the pressure to open the children's hospital despite warnings of high infection risk for immunocompromised children.
Swinney responded that the Scottish government was unaware until 2018, promising to release further cabinet minutes and correspondence. He expressed confidence in the inquiry chair, Lord Brodie, to provide the necessary scrutiny and truth.
NHSGCC's lawyer, Peter Gray KC, stated that the health board has changed, offering an apology for the distress caused. However, John Cuddihy questioned the board's ability to implement meaningful change, asking for tangible outcomes and accountability.
He wants the Scottish government to intervene, ensuring that such tragedies never happen again.
"Molly wanted them to recognize what had happened," John said. "Recognition enables meaningful change."
This story highlights the importance of listening to patients, families, and whistleblowers. It raises questions about institutional accountability and the need for a thorough investigation.
What are your thoughts? Do you think the health board should face consequences, or is an apology enough? The floor is open for discussion.
