By a Democrat reporter
A grandmother told a fatal accident inquiry into the death of a toddler that she felt they were unwelcome at the hospital a day before he died.
Isabel Reilly gave evidence into the fatal accident inquiry of grandson Sonny Campbell.
The 22-month-old contracted an infection and died at the Royal Hospital for Children, which serves West Dunbartonshire, on December 6, 2016.
Another toddler, 23-month-old Cailyn Newlands also died at the hospital that day from an infection despite not being treated by the same doctors nor having encountered each other.
The inquiry will focus on the circumstances of Sonny and Cailyn’s deaths, with particular focus on guidance, training, the medical assessments of the children and whether the children should have been assessed by a senior doctor or consultant.
The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.
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Patients are having to rely on MRI scanners and X-ray machines that are decades old, Scottish Labour has warned.
Figures obtained by the party through freedom of information legislation show NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has an MRI scanner and CT scanner that are 18 and 19 years old respectively.
In total, NHSGGC has six MRI scanners that are more than a decade old, including three more than 15 years old, and 26 X-ray machines that are more than a decade old, including 21 more than 15 years old.
Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie, right, said: “Patients might be forgiven for thinking they’re in the Scottish remake of Back To The Future when they learn how old the machines providing vital medical information actually are.
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CalMacInothewayurthinkin beats Galopin Des Champs to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for JP McManus
Paul Townend and Galopin des Champs were denied a historic hat-trick in the Gold Cup, as Inothewayurthinkin claimed glory in the race of the week at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Galopin Des Champs was denied a historic third successive Cheltenham Gold Cup as Inothewayurthinkin triumphed in the race of the week.
With history on the line, Galopin Des Champs, Paul Townend and Willie Mullins were denied by a sensational ride as jockey Mark Walsh marshalled the Gavin Patrick Cromwell-trained seven-year-old to an emphatic win. “I’m dancing inside,” said Walsh. “I can’t believe it. He jumped well, just missed the ditch. Paul [Townend on Galopin Des Champs] was on my outside and early on, he missed a few fences and I just thought he wasn’t happy. This boy [Inothewayurthinkin] has had to grow up over the last year. Gavin Cromwell is a genius having him spot on for today. I’m delighted.” On a day of upsets with plenty of other fascinating contests, the 100/1 shot Poniros pulled off the biggest shock of the week by winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle in the opening race of the day, while the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle saw another Mullins-Townend triumph with Jasmin De Vaux taking victory.
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Boss of nationalised Ferguson shipyard resigns
The interim boss of the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard had resigned for “personal reasons”.
John Petticrew had initially taken on the role for six months after the firm’s board dismissed his predecessor a year ago, but had agreed to stay on until Easter.
Ferguson Marine, based across the River Clyde in Port Glasgow, said it was close to announcing a permanent chief executive to replace him.
In a statement it said Mr Petticrew would shortly return to his home in Canada to be with his family, and thanked him for his “demonstrable impact” on the business.
Meanwhile, the nationalised Ferguson shipyard has missed out on a crucial order for seven small electric ferries for west coast operator Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferries procurement agency CMAL has instead named a Polish firm, Remontowa, as preferred bidder for the small vessels replacement programme (SVRP).
Ferguson’s, the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde, had vowed to bid “aggressively” for the contract and had made it onto a shortlist of six bidders.
A total of £175m has been allocated to build the new “loch class” vessels and complete harbour and shore power upgrades. The first ferries are due to join the CalMac fleet in 2027.
The contract was a key part of Ferguson Marine’s five-year business plan following delays and cost overruns in the construction of two much larger ferries for CalMac.
The 50m (164ft) ferries are similar to ones delivered successfully in the past by the Port Glasgow shipyard, and could have given it a pipeline of repeatable work lasting several years.
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An unintentional mistake by a junior member of staff at the Duck Bay Marina hotel has led to a huge outcry on social media.
And sudden closure of the Marina’s Trip Advisor website.
The unfortunate incident brought a “humble apology” from the affronted Loch Lomondside hotel’s management to the family of a child who were refused permission to plug in a nebuliser to assist the baby’s breathing.
The young staff member in question had no idea the baby in question was an end of life patient at the Robin House hospice in nearby Balloch.
And she was following instructions about the use of toilets and baby changing facilities by people who were not customers, despite the fact that the family had just had coffee there.
The baby’s family were upset and returned to the hospice, where a nurse decided to contact the hotel to complain on their behalf.
The hotel management have now issued an apology for what happened and promised to investigate the matter.
They said the incident was due to a “junior staff member” who “misunderstood and misjudged a situation” and that they will now make amends to the baby’s family for what happened.
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From The Bell, a new independent news and features platform for Glasgow.
An editorial in The Bell this week states: “Local news has been hollowed out in order to line the pockets of shareholders. At Reach plc, the UK’s biggest local news publisher which owns amongst many others The Lennox Herald, the Daily Record and the Sunday Mail, the last two years have seen 700 job cuts. Staff numbers are shrinking, while surviving writers are expected to churn out multiple stories a day, across ever larger patches. This is not a recipe for the in-depth local journalism that communities so desperately need right now. Barons to the left of us, and giant companies to the right. Readers are stuck in the middle. Step up independent media — like us.” Here at The Dumbarton Democrat we second that. We could do so much more if West Dunbartonshire Council got off our back though.
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People on PIP, ADP or DLA due one-off £255 payment later this year
The Child Winter Heating Payment is unique to Scotland and issued to youngsters under the age of 19 in receipt of the higher daily living component rate of Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (Child).
To be eligible for the payment, individuals need to have been in claim for one of the benefits mentioned above during the qualifying week, which will be the third week of September, 15th to 21st, 2025 (to be confirmed).
The a detailed announcement of the measures in relation to PIP, which will lead to turning back the clock to the impoverished days of “living on the parish” for many local people, will be made tomorrow (Tuesday).
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Next Sunday will see the Spring edition of the bi-annual Morning Star Scotland conference, being held in the STUC, 8 Landressy Street, Glasgow G40 1BP. The conference will run 12-4pm and will have three sessions on:
The organisations displaying at the event are Destination Helensburgh , Helensburgh Community Hub , Jean’s Bothy, Helensburgh Helensburgh Skatepark Project, Helensburgh Pier , Save The Tower Arts Centre , Helensburgh Community Woodlands Group , Argyll Community Housing Association – ACHA Group , Kirkmichael Community development group , Helensburgh & District Access Trust – HADAT , Business Gateway – Argyll and Bute , UHI Argyll , and Aspiring Places Argyll and Bute Council.
Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he expects negotiations between the EU and US before threatened tariffs come into force for the drinks industry next month.
He said he anticipates there would be discussions within the EU on the approach to the US threat of further tariffs and he would seek to protect Irish interests in those talks.
Irish whiskey producers – and drinks firms in Scotland such as Chivas Brothers and Auchentoshan at Dalnottar – are facing the prospect of severe tariffs on exports to the US in response to the EU promise to hit US whisky – which in turn was in response to tariffs on steel and aluminium which came into force on Wednesday.
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And here’s the latest about the black comedy that is shipbuilding in Scotland
The new Glen Sannox ferry has been removed from service because of a crack in the ship’s hull, according to the ferry operator CalMac.
The brand new vessel only began operating in January after being delivered almost seven years late and costing more than four times the original contract price.
The ship had been operating since January between Troon in South Ayrshire and Brodick in the Isle of Arran.
With service having to be abruptly cancelled is their no shame in Scotland about the third rate skill free country that we are?
Third World skills, no pride in what we deliver, it’s no wonder nd the country is headed for third world status.