Wards at sick kids’ hospital will not open for 5 months
HEALTH chiefs have apologised to families over a series of f ai l i ngs at Scotland’s ‘ superhospital’ – i ncluding the lengthy closure of two children’s wards.
A new report into the infections scandal at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) expressed concerns at the way problems with the building were handled.
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) oversight board said in the report it recognised ‘significant shortcomings’ in the construction and handover of the complex.
Wards 2A and 2B at the RHC – sited on the QEUH campus in Glasgow – closed i n September 2018 after patients developed infections linked to contaminated water.
Yesterday’s interim report by the oversight board – set up to address issues of infection prevention and control – also disclosed that children’s cancer wards will not reopen for another five months.
It stated some clinicians felt that their concerns – particularly over water and ventilation – were not being effectively addressed.
The report said: ‘The completion date for wards 2A and 2B
‘Contaminated water’ CRAIG BROWN IS AWAY
has now shifted to May 2021. The principal reason for the delay has been Covid-19.
‘In addition, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has identified additional problems with mould, fire-stopping and insulation in external walls which have all needed to be rectified and that has added time to the programme of work.’
The £842million hospital was completed in April 2015.
A separate independent review was ordered by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman foll owing the deaths of three patients between December 2018 and February 2019.
An adult and a child died after they contracted cryptococcus, an infection linked to pigeon droppings, while another adult died after contracting the fungal infection mucor. In the latter case the Procurator Fiscal concluded that the death was from natural causes and was likely unavoidable and that mucoraceous mould, while present, did not contribute to the death.
Milly Main, ten, died in 2017 at the hospital from an infection, which her mother believes was ‘100 per cent’ due to contaminated water.
Her family are seeking a Fatal Accident Inquiry.
The report added: ‘NHSGGC should pursue more active and open transparency by reviewing how it has engaged with the children, young people and families affected by the incidents.’ It said there had been ‘a clear failure of the goals of communication’.
Glasgow Labour MSP Anas Sarwar said: ‘It’s clear there were catastrophic failings from the hospital management. Families deserve closure, which is why we must ensure they receive all the answers they seek.’
Jane Grant, chief executive of NHSGGC, apologised for ‘ the distress caused to f amilies affected’.
She added: ‘The findings highlight several areas of learning for NHSGGC. We are fully committed to applying those lessons from this experience.’
Miss Freeman said the report provides ‘clear recommendat i ons f or how QEUH can strengthen infection prevention and control’ and how it ‘ can improve i ts communication and engagement with affected patients and families, and these recommendations will be vitally important as we plan ahead’.