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Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nFamilies and experts have questioned the report which NHSGGC submitted to a public inquiry. Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
NHS chiefs have been criticised after it emerged they paid \u00a375,000 of public money for a controversial report clearing a scandal-hit hospital<\/a> of links to infection outbreaks.<\/p>\n The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital<\/a> (QEUH) is at the centre of a public inquiry after dozens of patients became infected with rare bugs.<\/p>\n A government-ordered independent review published in 2021 stated 109 infections in 84 patients had \u201cpossible or probable\u201d links to the \u00a3842million superhospital\u2019s<\/a> environment and two children\u2019s infections were a probable cause of their death.<\/p>\n But it has now emerged NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde <\/a>(NHSGGC) paid \u00a375,000 to commission a report of their own which cleared the hospital of links to any of the infections and even went to court to ensure it was accepted into evidence at the ongoing inquiry.<\/p>\n Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: \u201cIt is simply astonishing that the rotten leadership of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spent \u00a375,000 of public money on a sham of a report to clear their name.<\/p>\n \u201cThe scandal at the QEUH<\/a> is the greatest in the history of devolution and those responsible must be held to account.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is unforgivable that the health board<\/a> leadership \u2013 aided and abetted by the SNP \u2013 have put their reputation before the safety of patients and staff. I\u2019ll not stop campaigning side by side with the families affected until justice is served.\u201d<\/p>\n The health board\u2019s <\/a>report states the independent review took a \u201cflawed approach\u201d and had a \u201cpreconceived view\u201d patients\u2019 infections came from the hospital environment.<\/p>\n It claims data on infections<\/a> \u201cdoesn\u2019t support\u201d the idea the hospital had a contaminated water system or the \u201cenvironment at the QEUH is playing a significant role in harbouring and transmitting pathogens\u201d to adults and children.<\/p>\n It goes on to state that the data doesn\u2019t support the theory that water or ventilation at the QEUH<\/a> and adjoining Royal Hospital for Children presents an \u201cadditional avoidable risk of infection\u201d and concludes: \u201cThe data does not demonstrate a link between the water or ventilation systems and patient infections.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the report has been rebuffed by the scientists who completed the original independent review of 118 cases at the QEUH<\/a> and RHC, as well as by families.<\/p>\n The inquiry\u2019s own solicitors, who are not representing either side, have also said they believed the ventilation system is still not safe today. Lawyers representing former cancer patient Molly Cuddihy and her family also raised concerns the health board\u2019s report excluded data about a rare bacteria called Mycobacterium chelonae.<\/p>\n Molly, along with fellow child cancer patient Stevie-Jo Kirkpatrick, were infected with the bug at the QEUH campus.<\/p>\n The Cuddihys lawyer said: \u201cThis omission is especially critical given the documented presence of M. chelonae in hospital water systems across multiple wards and its direct association with severe infections in [child cancer patients].\u201d<\/p>\n They said report authors didn\u2019t use data on the current state of the hospital environment in its conclusions and called it \u201cnon-sensical\u201d and \u201cindefensible\u201d.<\/p>\n NHSGGC <\/a>said: \u201cWe are committed to supporting the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry in their ongoing investigations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe report will be considered as part of the wider inquiry and report experts Professor Hawkey, Dr Agrawal, and Dr Drumwright, now take instruction from Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.\u201d<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![\"Anas](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1_JS368152545.jpg\")
Anas Sarwar <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1747398730_254_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
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