QEUH has not been fully validated by safety experts as inquiry counsel brands absence 'concerning'

The revelation emerged after Neil Gray repeatedly failed to tell MSPs at Holyrood if the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) and Royal Hospital for Children (RHC), both on the same site in Glasgow, had been validated by independent auditors over its safety.

Mr Gray also did not respond to concerns raised by an MSP that whistleblowers have revealed that cancer patients are being told by staff to drink bottled water after a series of infections were previously linked to the water and ventilation systems.

The Health Secretary announced that his officials are “looking at” how documents demanded by MSPs relating to the QEUH can be released and announced the creation of a “safety and public confidence oversight group”, which would be chaired by the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and Professor Lewis Ritchie.

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In his closing statements to the probe examining the failings at the hospital, inquiry counsel, Ken Mackintosh, stated that the hospital has yet to be fully validated, an absence he branded “most concerning”.

Mr Mackintosh said: “The whole hospital ventilation system has not been validated. The general wards have not been validated. It’s most concerning that it’s still not been done."

The counsel pointed to NHSGGC arguing that “a non-compliant ventilation system does not mean it’s necessarily less safe”.

READ MORE: 'Shameful' SNP under pressure to reassure patients QEUH has been validated for safety

But he highlighted ventilation rates, which were operating at around 2.5 to 3 air changes per hour - well below Scottish healthcare’s recommended levels for vulnerable patients.

Mr Mackintosh warned this “does increase the risk for highly immunocompromised patients who are placed in general ward standard rooms”.

He added: “If the air change in general rooms is reduced from six air changes per hour, then plainly that must increase the risk to immunocompromised patients to some extent.

“Given the devastating consequences of such an infection for those highly immunocompromised patients, then, in my submission, that risk is increased to a material degree.”

The stark testimony was highlighted at Holyrood by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who warned “it’s incredibly important that the cabinet secretary for health gives true information”.

Mr Sarwar added: “The cabinet secretary has repeatedly cited evidence at the inquiry as saying that presents evidence that the hospital is safe and he has selectively quoted transcripts from the counsel to the inquiry.

“This is not a matter for the inquiry to conclude and therefore make recommendations. This is a matter for the safety and public trust in our institutions in the here and now.

The Health Secretary must do his job and make sure we protect patient safety.”

In response, Mr Gray said: “I can say categorically that the hospital is safe.

“I do not wish to second guess the conclusions of the public inquiry.

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“Improvements to the ventilation system have been made where practical. The inquiry’s experts have given evidence that governance of both water and ventilation systems are now optimal.

“Robust air testing, reporting mechanisms, cleaning regimes and management of infection are in place.”

Tory MSP Stephen Kerr Stephen Kerr told MSPs it was "disturbing" that Mr Gray could not confirm whether the hospital has been validated.

He added: “I can tell him that two whistleblowers have come to us in recent days to tell us that staff are telling patients on the cancer wards not to drink the water, but to drink bottled water.

“So will he face up to the reality of these issues and deal with them now and not hide behind the procedural things he keeps bringing up.”