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Glasgow health board takes legal action against hospital contractor Glasgow health board takes legal action against hospital contractor
(about 2 hours later)
Queen Elizabeth university hospital complex has been plagued by serious problemsQueen Elizabeth university hospital complex has been plagued by serious problems
Scotland’s largest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has announced it is taking legal action against the contractor that built its crisis-hit super-hospital.Scotland’s largest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has announced it is taking legal action against the contractor that built its crisis-hit super-hospital.
Brookfield Multiplex was responsible for the design and construction of the £575m Queen Elizabeth university hospital (QEUH) complex in Glasgow, which has been plagued by serious problems since it opened in 2015.Brookfield Multiplex was responsible for the design and construction of the £575m Queen Elizabeth university hospital (QEUH) complex in Glasgow, which has been plagued by serious problems since it opened in 2015.
The health board’s chief executive, Jane Grant, said on Tuesday: “Having sought independent legal advice, we can confirm the board today has agreed to pursue legal action.”
She added: “Since its opening, a number of issues have arisen around the operational effectiveness of the hospital which have impacted on the seamless delivery of safe and effective healthcare. I am sorry for the distress this has caused.
“I am fully committed to resolving these issues and, alongside the rest of the NHS Board, will address these in a fully transparent and open manner.”
The health board was placed in the Scottish equivalent of special measures last month after revelations about the deaths of two children at the Royal Hospital for Children, part of the QEUH complex. The children were treated on a cancer ward that was later closed because of concerns about water contamination.The health board was placed in the Scottish equivalent of special measures last month after revelations about the deaths of two children at the Royal Hospital for Children, part of the QEUH complex. The children were treated on a cancer ward that was later closed because of concerns about water contamination.
Anas Sarwar, a Labour MSP for Glasgow, said of the legal action: “If senior managers are now accepting there were problems with the hospital, who is going to take responsibility for opening it and putting patients at risk? At the heart of this scandal is not a contractual arrangement but a catalogue of failings and a cover-up by hospital managers.”Anas Sarwar, a Labour MSP for Glasgow, said of the legal action: “If senior managers are now accepting there were problems with the hospital, who is going to take responsibility for opening it and putting patients at risk? At the heart of this scandal is not a contractual arrangement but a catalogue of failings and a cover-up by hospital managers.”
In September when concerns about the children’s wards were first raised, the Scottish government’s health secretary, Jeane Freeman, announced a public inquiry into hospital building flaws.In September when concerns about the children’s wards were first raised, the Scottish government’s health secretary, Jeane Freeman, announced a public inquiry into hospital building flaws.
The inquiry will also consider safety issues at the new £150m children’s hospital in Edinburgh, whose opening was delayed after final inspections revealed serious concerns about its ventilation system. The Edinburgh project also involved Brookfield Multiplex.The inquiry will also consider safety issues at the new £150m children’s hospital in Edinburgh, whose opening was delayed after final inspections revealed serious concerns about its ventilation system. The Edinburgh project also involved Brookfield Multiplex.
One of the children who died in Glasgow was 10-year-old Milly Main, who contracted an infection as she recovered from leukaemia treatment in 2017.One of the children who died in Glasgow was 10-year-old Milly Main, who contracted an infection as she recovered from leukaemia treatment in 2017.
Whistleblowers claimed hospital management had been warned of a high risk of infection three weeks before she died. Milly’s mother, Kimberly Darroch, told BBC Scotland she believed her daughter would still be alive if the Glasgow health board had taken action when it was first warned of the problems with the water supply.Whistleblowers claimed hospital management had been warned of a high risk of infection three weeks before she died. Milly’s mother, Kimberly Darroch, told BBC Scotland she believed her daughter would still be alive if the Glasgow health board had taken action when it was first warned of the problems with the water supply.
In January it emerged that two other patients at Glasgow’s QEUH had died after contracting a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings.In January it emerged that two other patients at Glasgow’s QEUH had died after contracting a fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings.