A woman tragically passed away after being diagnosed with an infection related to pigeon droppings, leading to her daughter expressing the immense suffering her mother endured during this time. Gail Armstrong, a cancer patient, succumbed to cryptococcus, a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings, while being treated at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow in January 2019.
The inquiry into the incident was initiated after several patients at the QEUH campus lost their lives due to infections associated with pigeon droppings and the water supply. Sandie Armstrong, the daughter of the deceased patient, shared that her mother’s health deteriorated rapidly, significantly impacting her quality of life and shortening her time with her loved ones.
Ms. Armstrong detailed how her mother’s decline began after a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in England, followed by delayed treatment before being transferred to the QEUH. She highlighted the inadequate conditions at the hospital that left her mother defenseless against the infection, emphasizing the hospital’s role in the tragic outcome.
During the inquiry, Ms. Armstrong expressed her dismay at the insensitive comments made by a consultant microbiologist suggesting that her mother could have contracted the infection from a park near her home, rather than the hospital environment. The family felt manipulated during discussions with senior management and clinical staff regarding the investigation into the incident.
The impact of the infection on her mother’s life was profound, leading to confusion, loss of mobility, and a decline in the quality of her remaining days. The family felt robbed of the opportunity to bid a proper farewell to their beloved mother due to the circumstances surrounding her treatment at the hospital.
The emotional testimony provided by Ms. Armstrong shed light on the suffering endured by her mother and the family’s quest for justice and accountability in the ongoing inquiry led by Lord Brodie in Edinburgh. The heart-wrenching account serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of inadequate medical care and the need for improved safety measures in healthcare facilities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.