A father whose child was undergoing cancer treatment at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow has recounted a chilling warning from a cleaner that tap water on the ward was not fit for animals. David Campbell alleges it was common knowledge among staff, including nurses, as early as 2018 that unsanitary conditions at the hospital site posed potentially lethal risks to vulnerable patients.
Shocking Warnings from Hospital Staff
Mr Campbell was stunned when an orderly told him, "I wouldn't let my dog drink the water in here," while nurses cautioned, "It won't be the cancer that kills your child, it will be an infection." His son James, then four years old, was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2018 and received treatment at the hospital's children's cancer ward.
Investigation into Multiple Deaths
Police and the Crown Office are currently examining seven deaths at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the neighbouring Royal Hospital for Children, with potential corporate homicide prosecutions under consideration. Among the victims are Molly Cuddihy, aged 23, ten-year-old Milly Main, and two other unnamed children.
The ongoing Hospitals Inquiry, led by judge Lord Brodie, continues to investigate the scandal involving patients treated in buildings with apparently fatally flawed water and ventilation systems. Mr Campbell, whose son survived the ordeal, has provided evidence to the inquiry and shared his experiences with the Sunday Times.
Daily Routines Compromised by Safety Fears
"I first heard there were concerns about the tap water on the children's cancer ward from a cleaner," Mr Campbell explained. "We had not been on ward 2A long when a cleaner suggested I ask for bottled water." He noted signs on bathroom doors instructing that showers be run for five minutes before use, and other families avoided using tap water to clean their children's teeth.
Despite nurses providing excellent care for James, obtaining clear answers about water safety proved difficult. The family resorted to washing him with mild wet wipes and cold bottled water purchased from the hospital's Marks & Spencer store, a routine Mr Campbell described as "bizarre."
Hospital Unit Closure and Parental Concerns
Shortly after these incidents, the children's Schiehallion Unit was closed without official explanation, forcing James to relocate to an ill-equipped adult ward in the main hospital. Mr Campbell observed that several children were falling seriously ill during this period.
Parents established a Facebook group to share concerns, but when NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde allegedly planted a member to monitor discussions, they had to move to a different forum. Amid the turmoil, Mr Campbell wrote to then Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman, who responded that she had spoken with NHSGGC chief executive Jane Grant and they were monitoring the situation.
Medication and Management Failures
Mr Campbell also recalled that his son and other children were prescribed anti-fungal drugs, only later realizing these were not standard components of cancer treatment. Now 48 and living in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, he stated that his trust in NHS management and the government has been "destroyed."
He expressed dismay at the "lack of remorse" from senior NHSGGC managers, calling it "staggering," and added, "It shocks me that no one has lost their job over what happened."
Official Admissions and Denials
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has acknowledged that the water supply likely caused fatalities, but attributed part of the problem to pressure to open the hospital on time in April 2015, stating, "It was not ready." First Minister John Swinney and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was in office in 2015, deny exerting pressure on the health board.
