Hospital inquiry issues plea to get in touch
THE judge leading a public inquiry into flaws in the design and construction of two major hospitals has urged anyone with information to get in touch.
Lord Brodie issued a call for evidence as work begins to prepare for hearings into the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) campus in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) in Edinburgh.
The QEUH and its adjoining children’s hospital opened in 2015, but have been plagued by clusters of rare fungal and bloodstream infections among cancer patients potentially linked to problems with its ventilation and water supply systems.
Construction giant Brookfield Multiplex built both the QEUH and RHCYP, and is now being sued for £73 million in damages by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to cover the cost of repairs and upgrades.
Lord Brodie said: “We are encouraging anyone who has been affected by the matters giving rise to concern to get in touch. This is just the first part of the process and we will be following up on initial contact. We’re really looking for anything that people feel may be relevant.”
He said this could include patients and families affected by infections at the QEUH campus, NHS whistleblowers, or anyone involved during the design and construction phases.
Lord Brodie said it would be up to the inquiry to “dig deep” and “ensure that we establish facts with the greatest degree of certainty that is possible”.
It will have powers to compel witnesses to give oral testimony and to hand over documents, and Lord Brodie stressed that he would not allow the civil proceedings against Multiplex “to restrict the way we go forward with the inquiry”.
Public hearings are unlikely to begin before the end of 2021 at the earliest.