Health board seeks £73m in damages after hospital scandal

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is seeking £73m in damages over problems with its flagship 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 (QEUH) 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 includes costs incurred to date and those anticipated for the future.

NHSGGC said it published the summons on Wednesday 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.

“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.”
Jane Grant, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

“Whilst 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.”

The board of Multiplex said: “Multiplex is extremely disappointed that some five years after the completion of the QEUH, which was delivered on time, on budget and fully certified before its handover, the Greater Glasgow health board (GGHB) has now decided to issue legal proceedings against Multiplex, its design consultants and other professional advisers.

“We are currently reviewing the terms of the claim with our advisers and will be providing a response in due course.

“Multiplex is of course treating the matters raised with utmost seriousness and will continue to work openly, proactively and transparently with GGHB on this project.”

An independent review by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) 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.

HPS agreed with the measures proposed by NHSGGC to address issues – and these actions have been taken.

Milly Main died in 2017 at the Royal Hospital for Children on the campus of the QEUH from an infection, which her mother said she believes was “100%” due to contaminated water.

NHSGGC has reported the death of the ten-year-old to the procurator fiscal.