Deaths of two more patients at Glasgow hospital under investigation | Scotland

Prosecutors are investigating the deaths of seven patients at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), following revelations of contaminated water and ventilation systems. The investigation comes amid claims of political pressure to open the hospital in 2015 before it was fully ready.

Hospital Infection Investigation Expanded

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) confirmed investigations now include the cases of 23-year-old Molly Cuddihy and Andrew Slorance, a former Scottish government civil servant. Families of the deceased will be kept informed of the progress of the investigations.

Cuddihy, diagnosed with a rare bone cancer at age 15, received treatment at the Royal Hospital for Children and the QEUH. She died last August, with her organs weakened by both cancer treatment and infections. An inquiry previously heard evidence suggesting serious infections in 84 child cancer patients, two of whom died, were likely caused by the hospital’s contaminated water system.

Previously, COPFS investigations focused on four deaths, including 10-year-old Milly Main, who died in 2017, two other children, and 73-year-old Gail Armstrong, who died in 2019 after contracting a fungal infection. The death of 65-year-old Anthony Dynes in 2021, also being treated at the QEUH for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is also under investigation.

Allegations of Political Interference

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has presented evidence suggesting political pressure was applied to open the hospital in April 2015, prior to the general election. Sarwar claims this decision led to a decade of “lies, deceit and cover-up,” and ultimately contributed to patient deaths.

The allegations have been denied by First Minister John Swinney and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The health board has issued a “sincere and unreserved apology” to those affected, stating it is now a “very different organisation” than the one involved in the hospital’s initial design and construction. Three senior microbiologists who raised early concerns about infection control continue to have “significant concerns” regarding the implementation of necessary changes by senior management.