The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Summons over hospital infections row
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has published legal action seeking £73 million in damages due to problems with a flagship £800m hospital campus hit by an infections scandal.
The health board has served a summons on four companies for losses incurred due to a number of technical issues within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children.
It claims the firms – Multiplex, Capita Property and Infrastructure Ltd, BPY Holdings LP and Currie and Brown UK Limited – did not meet the requirements of NHSGGC in design, commissioning or building stages in 11 areas.
The current estimation of damages and losses is nearly £73m, including costs incurred to date and those anticipated for the future.
NHSGGC said it published the summons yesterday due to the “public interest in the hospitals and legal proceedings”. Jane Grant, chief executive of the health board, said: “We would assure patients and their families that patient safety is paramount and that patient care at the two hospitals is of a high standard.
“Our staff strive at all times to provide high-quality care and I would like to thank them for their continued professionalism and dedication during this time.
“While we are now taking legal action on a number of design and installation issues, it is important to stress that the hospitals continue to provide safe and effective care.”
She added: “A significant amount of work has already taken place including the remedial action on the water supply and the ventilation.
“We know that patients, families and staff have been caused concern as the issues have emerged and I am sorry for any distress caused.
“As the matters are now the subject of court proceedings, we are not in a position to comment further.”
An independent review by Health Protection Scotland into the water supply confirmed contamination of the system in 2018.
The inquiry, commissioned by NHSGGC, was established to investigate a number of probable linked cases of infection associated with the water supply.