By late 2019, the growing scandal was being discussed in the Scottish Parliament where Anas Sarwar, now the Scottish Labour leader, raised the case of Milly Main.
He had obtained leaked reports which showed experts were warning about the safety of the water system even as the hospital was accepting its first patients.
With public concern mounting and a ventilation problem delaying the opening of a separate hospital in Edinburgh, Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman ordered a public inquiry into their design, construction commissioning and maintenance.
That inquiry, now drawing to close after six years, has heard from 186 witnesses, painting a picture of what some clinicians described as a “defensive” management culture at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
One microbiologist, Dr Teresa Inkster, said she felt discouraged from speaking up at infection control meetings.
Another microbiologist and senior doctor, Christine Peters, said she was advised by a senior colleague to “pipe down” or she would find things “hard” professionally.
She has previously told BBC News she had been flagging concerns about the buildings since 2014 and was advised not to put anything in writing.