Medical Day Unit at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is hit by bed shortages
The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which takes patients from West Dunbartonshire.
by Jennifer Hyland in Sunday Mail
Vulnerable patients at the scandal-hit super hospital claim they face infection risks because their ward is being used as an overspill area due to bed shortages.
The Medical Day Unit (MDU) at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) delivers treatments such as chemotherapy, intravenous infusions and blood transfusions to people with severely weakened immune systems.
“People with all sorts of illnesses are being brought in to fill beds along with immunocompromised patients like myself who are possibly in for a biopsy, transfusion or infusion. It’s also putting undue pressure on the medical staff of the ward, as they do not have time to think, let alone function.
“I have raised concerns with the complaints procedure within the hospital, but to be frank, it fell on deaf ears.
“Consultants are telling patients they are also not happy as procedures are having to be pushed back due to resource shortages, which could result in treatment being delayed. Yet the hospital management sits back and does nothing.”
The woman initially complained in 2023 and claims she was told that the ward was being used to address admission capacity and was a temporary measure.
She claims she was told that she could opt to change hospitals for treatment.
She says she was again told it was a temporary measure, but has received no further response to her complaints.
A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: “During periods of high demand, inpatient care may be temporarily delivered within the Medical Day Unit (MDU). We do this to ensure patients continue to receive safe and timely care.
“We recognise the importance of timely treatment for patients attending the MDU and take steps to minimise any disruption whenever this happens and apologise to anyone who has experienced waits.
“Safety remains our absolute priority for all patients, and robust infection prevention and control measures are in place. This includes strict cleaning protocols, clinical risk assessments, and appropriate patient cohorting. We encourage any patient with concerns about their care to contact us directly.”
The health board has logged almost 400 medical mistakes, including 85 patient deaths over two years.
The latest revelations come as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) faces ongoing scrutiny over infection control at the QEUH.
The flagship facility has been at the centre of long-running controversy over hospital-acquired infections. It remains a key focus of the ongoing Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which is examining the planning, construction and safety of major acute hospitals across Scotland.
“Patients will be rightly horrified that this scandal-hit hospital is still putting patients at serious risk of infection because of the SNP’s dire mismanagement of our NHS, and that their concerns have been repeatedly ignored.
“SNP ministers must be fully transparent and explain why this is happening and what action they are taking to rectify it.”
Dumbarton MSP and Scottish Labour Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie, left, said: “These incredibly serious reports require urgent investigation.
“Vulnerable patients must be able to trust that they are safe in hospital, and it is a scandal that this has not always been the case in the QEUH. Right across Scotland, hospitals are dangerously overstretched on the SNP’s watch.
“The SNP must put patient safety first and work with Health Boards to ensure the QEUH and all hospitals can cope.”