Mould growth has been found in a cancer ward at a scandal-hit children’s hospital which serves West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute, the health secretary has confirmed.
Some rooms on the adult bone marrow transplant unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow were sealed off last month due to “potential water ingress”.
Neil Gray told MSPs at that mould growth had been found in one of the closed rooms.
The hospital, one of the largest in the UK, is subject to a national inquiry after a number of deaths and high levels of infection.
In January, the local health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, admitted to the inquiry that infections of some child cancer patients in the Royal Hospital for Children part of the campud were probably linked to a hospital water system.
Gray was responding to Scottish Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher’s questions about water ingress issues at the hospital.
He said: “In the interests of full transparency, I am making Parliament aware that this morning it was confirmed that a swab taken from room 85, which was closed on 19 February, has shown mould growth.
“As colleagues would expect, I have made it clear to Greater Glasgow and Clyde that I expect their continued focus to see these issues resolved as soon as possible.”
Neil Gray, left, confirmed mould growth had been identified at the hospital
First Minister John Swinney confirmed last week that a red alert had been issued for one of the wards at the hospital.
He said the Scottish government was first told of an amber alert on the ward on 26 February.
It was escalated to a red warning on 5 March before returning to amber.
Gray and the first minister have both said the rise in alerts are primarily due to media interest in the hospital rather than a direct threat.
The timeline of the hospitals controversy
Gallacher said it was correct to say there is media interest, but the public will be concerned at the developments.
“The cabinet secretary has just outlined bone marrow transplant patients are among the most vulnerable in the NHS, and common airborne mould can cause life-threatening infections,” she added.
“Can I ask the cabinet secretary what further action the government is taking to ensure that the wards, not the ones that you’ve mentioned, but other wards, have also been inspected for mould and water ingress?
“When will the bone marrow ward be safe for use, and, ultimately, who will be held accountable for this latest incident at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital?”
Gray responded that he had visited the QEUH last Wednesday and safety mitigations were being taken by staff while the ward continues to be used.
He said: “There are rooms that are closed in order to manage safety and to take a risk-averse approach and to ensure, as Meghan Gallacher rightly says, that the risks are being managed given the immunosuppressed patients with clinically-driven medications.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been approached for comment.
Commenting on the Scottish Government confirming that mould growth has been found in the bone marrow transplant unit at the QEUH, Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “This is a deeply alarming development, and it is vital that all necessary steps are taken to make the ward safe.
“Bone marrow transplant patients are among the most vulnerable patients in the NHS and common airborne mould can cause life-threatening infections.
“Therefore, it is crucial that Health Secretary Neil Gray, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, ensure that all other wards are inspected for any potential mould and water ingress.
“Troublingly, this comes just a week after John Swinney said he was ‘confident’ that the QEUH is safe for patients.
“The culture of secrecy and cover-up that has surrounded this SNP government must come to an end.
“Patients deserve answers, and they must be given the reassurance that the hospital is safe and fit for purpose.”
The health board recently announced a new oversight group to boost public confidence in the safety of the QEUH.