Health board admits fatal infections probably caused by water system
A health board has admitted that issues with its water system likely led to infections in child cancer patients at a major hospital.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) had initially denied that bacteria in the water at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) was responsible for infections resulting in patient deaths. However, in their closing submissions to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, the health board acknowledged a probable "causal connection" between patient infections and the hospital environment, particularly the water system.
A spokesperson for NHSGGC stated their support for the inquiry, while the Scottish government declined to comment. The inquiry was launched to investigate planning, design, and construction mistakes at the QEUH campus, following concerns about unusual infections and the deaths of four patients, including 10-year-old Milly Main.
Milly contracted the stenotrophomonas bacteria during leukaemia treatment in 2017, leading to her death. A separate corporate homicide investigation into the deaths of Milly, two other children, and 73-year-old Gail Armstrong was initiated in 2021. Additionally, prosecutors opened an investigation into the death of a young woman, seven years after she became seriously ill with a potentially hospital-acquired infection.
NHSGGC's closing statement acknowledged that it was "more likely than not" that some infections were linked to the hospital's water supply. They stated, "NHSGGC accepts that, on the balance of probabilities, there is a causal connection between some infections suffered by patients and the hospital environment, in particular the water system."
The health board noted a "steady decrease" in infection rates after remedial measures were implemented. Despite this, a former lead infection control doctor at the hospital told the Inquiry in 2024 that there was no direct evidence linking infections to the building.
Patrick McGuire, representing affected families, praised the admission but called for accountability and an extended inquiry to prevent future incidents. The case of Molly Cuddihy, who died in the high dependency unit of the hospital in 2023, further highlights the ongoing safety concerns at the QEUH.
