Scotland's £1 billion Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) was opened too early despite safety concerns, the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry has heard. In its closing statement, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) admitted that pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and that it was not ready when it began admitting patients in April 2015.
The health board had previously acknowledged a likely causal connection between infections suffered by patients, including child cancer patients, and the hospital environment, particularly the water system. This admission came after years of denial that bacteria in the water was to blame.
Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie told MSPs that the fingerprints of senior SNP figures, including Deputy First Minister John Swinney, former Health Secretary Shona Robison, and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, were all over the decision to open the hospital early. She urged Swinney to reveal what he knew about concerns raised before the opening.
Scottish Conservatives health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane described the water issues linked to infections in patients who died at the QEUH as the most appalling and disgusting hospital scandal to engulf the NHS. He accused NHSGCC of covering up the problem for over a decade, silencing whistleblowers, and betraying patient trust.
Health Secretary Neil Gray expressed condolences to affected families and said ministers take patient safety seriously. However, he declined to comment further while the inquiry is ongoing, stating it is important to allow the inquiry space to reach its final conclusions.
