I didn't join NHS to go to war with families

Whistleblower slams health board boss at infection scandal hospital

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

A HEALTH board boss is alleged to have referred to a "war" with the parents of children who became ill in the hospital infection scandal.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde communications director Sandra Bustillo is said to have told her staff a concerned parent may have "won the battle but won't win the war" after he raised his concerns in the media.

A whistleblower, who we have agreed not to name, claimed Bustillo made the remark on more than one occasion after Professor John Cuddihy spoke publicly about his daughter Molly's case.

Cancer patient Molly fell ill at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus and went into septic shock - a life-threatening condition which happens when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level after an infection.

Molly was diagnosed with mycobacterium chelonae, an infection in her line which came from the hospital environment.

The whistleblower said Bustillo's comments highlighted the "toxic culture" which existed within the department.