New infection risk alert at Glasgow's flagship hospital

A ward at Glasgow's flagship hospital ward has been partially closed following a new infection risk alert.

Some rooms on the adult bone marrow unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) have been sealed and extra infection control measures introduced.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said concerns were raised after the discovery of "potential water ingress" to a room on Ward 4B.

Following investigations - which included exploring Ward 5B above - it said "no recent evidence" of dampness was found "at this time" but added staff would continue to remain vigilant.

The hospital campus has been the focus of a public inquiry looking at whether problems with the hospital environment including water and ventilation systems were to blame for infections and patient deaths.

The latest infection concerns, first reported on Sky News , said the alarm was raised after the discovery of "mould and dirty water ingress".

Ward 4B is a 24-bed bone marrow transplant unit for adult patients, many of whom would be particularly susceptible to infections.

A NHSGGC spokesperson said: "We recently responded to concerns regarding potential water ingress to a room within Ward 4B.

"In response, a small number of rooms were temporarily sealed off and investigations were undertaken, with appropriate infection prevention and control measures in place."

"Following investigations, which included exploring Ward 5B on the floor above, we can confirm no recent evidence of water ingress within the ward has been found at this time, however, we continue to remain vigilant.

NHSGGC confirmed Ward 5B, which treats diabetes patients, would be temporarily closed for "planned remedial upgrades to the ensuite rooms".

A statement added: "Issues to ensuite bathrooms have previously been identified and form part of our ongoing wider legal claims against the builder.

"To support upgrades, Ward 5B patients will be moved to another appropriate ward."

The health board said patients and staff were being updated about developments.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar - who previously branded failures at the QEUH as "the biggest scandal in the history of the Scottish Parliament" - said he was "deeply concerned" by the development.

The QEUH, which opened in 2015, has been at the centre of a long-running controversy over claims that bacterial and fungal infections were linked to the hospital environment, particularly the water and ventilation systems.

Those concerns prompted a public inquiry, announced in 2019, which has been gathering evidence and is now considering its findings.

In a closing submission earlier this year, the health board for the first time conceded that some infections in a child cancer unit were on the balance of probabilities linked to defects in the water supply system.

Last month the health board insisted its flagship campus was now safe after families wrote to the first minister raising ongoing concerns.

Health Secretary Neil Gray also announced the creation of a new independent oversight group to boost public confidence in the safety of the QEUH.

Separate from the public inquiry, Scotland's independent prosecution and deaths investigation service is examining seven deaths for potential links to the hospital environment at the QEUH hospital campus.

The case of Molly Cuddihy, who died last August, has been passed to a specialist hospitals teams in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) which is also looking at the deaths of Andrew Slorance and Tony Dynes.

In four earlier cases, including that of Milly Main, 10, a police report has been received and COPFS is considering whether to begin corporate homicide prosecutions.

Sarwar stressed the need to be "open, truthful and transparent" about the situation at the hospital.

As well as holding the leadership of NHSGGC to account, he also challenged SNP ministers over "taking responsibility, rather than passing the buck".

Sarwar said: "We can't put politics before patient safety.

"So we need as much transparency as possible.

"We need an openness from government and the health board, rather than relying upon journalists doing independent investigations to try and find the truth."

The Scottish government said it was aware of an incident within NHSGGC.

A spokesperson also confirmed Health Secretary Neil Gray met the board to ensure "swift and appropriate action" was being taken.

They added: "We have been clear with the board that the safety of patients and staff remains our absolute priority."

The spokesperson said the recently announced oversight group would see the board take "immediate steps to strengthen trust and patient confidence" in the QEUH and the adjoining Royal Hospital for Children.