SNP and Green MSPs have been accused of a “shocking betrayal” after voting down plans to give bereaved families extra rights.
Labour’s plan for “Milly’s Law” - named after the tragic ten year old who died at a Glasgow super hospital after catching an infection - was sunk at Holyrood.
Milly Main was in remission from leukemia at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital when she passed away in 2017.
Her mum Kimberly Darroch learned about the infection link when she read the claims of a whistleblower in the Daily Record two years later.
An independent probe eventually concluded that Milly died after “probably” catching a water-linked infection at the QUEH.
Labour’s plan for ‘Milly’s Law’ focused on amending the Government’s Patient Safety Commissioner Bill.
In practice, it would mean the Commissioner would represent those affected by a major incident in health care safety.
He would also be required to launch a probe into incidents and provide families with information.
The Commissioner would also have the power of “redress”, including compensation, while copies of reports into major incidents would also have to be provided to police and prosecutors.
The proposal, which is supported by Milly’s mum Kimberly Darroch, was voted down by SNP and Green MSPs.
Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “This is a shocking betrayal of the families affected by the QEUH scandal and will only entrench the culture of secrecy and cover-up encouraged by the SNP.
“Only last week, Humza Yousaf promised to work with Labour on the Patient Safety Commissioner Bill - clearly this was only the latest in a line of hollow promises made for TV cameras by this morally bankrupt government.
“For too long, patients and their families have been failed by those in power.
“By failing to support Scottish Labour’s amendments to the Patient Safety Commissioner bill, the SNP and the Greens have proved that they are on the side of the powers that be, not the patients and their families.
“Scottish Labour will continue to fight to enhance the rights and powers of patients - despite opposition from the SNP and the Greens.”
Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay said: “Jackie Baillie is trying to do the right thing by families, there is no doubt of that. But her proposal needs more work which is why while sitting next to her in committee today, I offered to meet with her on finding a way through.
"How we hold organisations accountable when things go wrong, how we ensure consistency when they are being investigated and crucially, how we ensure that families feel listened to, have to be central to this at all times.”
First Minister Humza Yousaf said last week: "I look forward to engaging with the Scottish Labour Party in relation to our Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland Bill, which Labour and other parties are engaged with, so that we can enhance the rights of patients, not just in greater Glasgow and Clyde but right across the country."
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