Patients terrified as more glass falls 100ft from f lagship hospital
A LARGE pane of glass fell ten floors onto a walkway at the front entrance of Scotland’s biggest hospital yesterday.
An urgent investigation was launched by health chiefs after the heavy glass panel fell from the top of the flagship Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Witnesses said the glass narrowly missed visitors, staff and patients standing near the main entrance of the £842million superhospital after it fell an estimated 100ft.
The heavy panel is the fourth to have become detached from the building and plummet to the ground since May last year.
It is the latest in a string of botched building works to plague the site, including faulty lifts and bungled roof works.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said yesterday it was unclear what had happened or caused the incident. The area has been cordoned off by officials while the debris is cleared away.
Last night, Scottish Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘It’s extremely lucky that no one was seriously hurt by this falling panel but the fact that this is the fourth panel to fall from this new building is extremely worrying.
‘Given the ongoing issues facing the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, questions must be asked about the inspections of the building prior to being handed over to NHS Scotland.
‘NHSGGC must take every possible step to make sure that the building is safe for staff, patients and their families and this never happens again.’
One witness said the panel came crashing down in front of them. Writing on social media they said: ‘Near miss! A panel of glass smashed from the second to top floor while walking into main entrance of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.’
The showpiece hospital, opened in 2015, has been affected by a series of problems, including poor cleanliness and long waiting times.
Three glass panels fell from the building in only three months from May last year, when another upper floor window panel crashed onto the ground.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the NHSGGC said: ‘An external decorative panel this morning fell from the 10th floor of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital building.
‘Fortunately no one was hurt and the area was immediately
‘Not known why this happened’
secured. Staff are on site to assess and repair the damage.
‘It is not at this time clear why this happened.’
Anas Sarwar MSP said: ‘The hospital has had a number of issues since it opened, with panelling falling from the roof and concerns the cladding used is the same as Grenfell Tower.
‘It is essential everything is done to reassure the staff about the safety of the building.’