Meeting of the Parliament [Draft] Business until 17:17

Meeting date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Official Report 934KB pdf

Point of Order

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I rise to seek your guidance. We are all aware of the latest tragic situation that is under investigation at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital in Glasgow, where contaminated water has been identified as the likely cause of infection that led to the deaths of cancer patients. That is in addition to previously recognised failures, including infections that were caused by bird droppings in the ventilation system.

In its closing statement to the Scottish hospitals inquiry, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said:

“Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear the hospital opened too early. It was not ready.”

The potential implications of that statement cannot be overstated, nor can we, as the Opposition—or, indeed, the Parliament—in all consciousness let that slide by unchallenged.

I seek your guidance under rule 13.1 of the Parliament’s standing orders as to whether you would be minded to grant a personal statement to the chamber by a member in respect of the comments that were made by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Although she is no longer a member of the Government, Nicola Sturgeon was both the Cabinet Secretary for Health when construction of the hospital began and First Minister when it opened. Given the tragic results of the pressure that was applied, it is essential that, as someone who bears the ultimate responsibility for the Government’s actions at the time, Nicola Sturgeon must make a statement to the Parliament. I ask whether she has sought to make such a statement and, if so, whether you would be prepared to grant that request. Finally, would members have the opportunity to ask questions following such a statement, as was the case with Michael Matheson’s personal statement on 16 November 2023?

I have received no such request at this time. Any member may, at the discretion of the Presiding Officer, make a personal statement to a meeting of the Parliament. Any member who wishes to do so would notify the Presiding Officer of their desire. If the Presiding Officer were to decide that a personal statement may be made, the Parliamentary Bureau would be notified and would include notice of the statement in any business programme. A personal statement would not generally be debated. Certainly, whoever is in the chair as Presiding Officer would consider any such request.