Please find below a suggested draft of a complaint addressed to BBC Scotland to give you some ideas. Please don't simply copy and paste this, as any near-identical letters will count as only one complaint as their complaints software will flag your letter as a copy and it will probably be rejected.

Collectively, we need to be smart with this.

Sign personally in blue ink and send it by registered post and keep a delivery receipt.
 

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, Postcode]

[Email Address]

[Phone Number]

[Date: February 01, 2026]

BBC Scotland Complaints

BBC Scotland

Pacific Quay

Glasgow

G51 1DA

Formal Complaint Regarding Biased and Inaccurate Reporting on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) Infections Inquiry

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to lodge a formal complaint about BBC Scotland's recent coverage of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry into infections at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow. 

Over the past few weeks, it has become increasingly evident that your reporting has omitted crucial information and facts, while appearing to amplify unsubstantiated claims and smears made by Scottish Labour politicians Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie. This approach contravenes the BBC's Editorial Guidelines on impartiality and accuracy, as well as the broader principles outlined in the BBC Charter, which require the corporation to provide impartial, high-quality output that serves the public interest and reflects a range of viewpoints fairly.

The QEUH infections story is a serious matter involving patient deaths, family trauma, and allegations of systemic failures at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC). Recent developments, including the health board's admission in closing submissions to the inquiry that infections were "more likely than not" linked to the hospital's water system, have highlighted years of denials and potential cover-ups by the board itself. Families of affected patients have publicly stated they were "lied to, demeaned and smeared" by NHSGGC, underscoring the board's responsibility in this scandal.

However, BBC Scotland's reporting has repeatedly focused on political attacks against the Scottish Government, often platforming Sarwar and Baillie's accusations without adequate scrutiny or balance. For instance, in coverage of claims about "political pressure" to open the hospital early, your reports have highlighted Sarwar's assertions of "damning evidence" and government involvement, while downplaying or omitting counter-evidence. This includes failing to prominently feature statements from First Minister John Swinney and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon denying any such pressure or knowledge of safety concerns prior to 2018. More critically, BBC Scotland has not adequately addressed evidence from the inquiry's KC, Fred Mackintosh, who confirmed that NHSGGC did not follow Scottish Government guidance on ventilation and that the government was not informed of risk assessments until 2018 – directly contradicting Sarwar's narrative of government lies and cover-ups.

Specific examples of omissions and bias include:

In reports emphasizing Sarwar's claims that ministers pushed for an early opening despite safety fears, key details from inquiry documents were not included, such as the health board's own role in decision-making and the lack of evidence for direct ministerial interference. This creates a misleading impression that the Scottish Government, rather than NHSGGC, bears primary responsibility.

Coverage has amplified Baillie's calls for "truth" from those in power, without contextualizing her own party's politicization of the issue during an ongoing police investigation. This selective framing supports smears against the SNP while ignoring criticisms that Sarwar's statements imply criminality without basis.

BBC Scotland has been accused of cutting vital evidence from broadcasts to align with Labour's attacks, such as not reporting on the KC's statement that led to public outcry over Sarwar's alleged misinformation. Independent analyses, including from blogs and social media monitors, highlight how your reporting has suppressed facts that exonerate the government and instead promoted unsubstantiated political narratives.
These breaches undermine public trust in BBC Scotland, particularly in a devolved context where impartiality is essential for holding all parties accountable. The BBC Charter mandates that output must be "accurate and impartial," avoiding undue prominence to any one perspective (Section 6). Your coverage appears to violate this by prioritizing opposition smears over a balanced examination of NHSGGC's admitted failures and the inquiry's findings.

I have a comprehensive timeline prepared with screen shots and links to video articles which back up the material referenced above.

I request a full investigation into this complaint, including a review of specific broadcasts and articles from January 2026 onward. Please provide a detailed response outlining any corrective actions, such as on-air clarifications or retractions where inaccuracies have occurred. If dissatisfied with your response, I will escalate this to Ofcom.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]