![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_NHS-Greater-Glasgow-and-Clyde-Annual-Review-for-2022-2023.jpg\")
(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nSUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: Patients and families say they are still suffering from the trauma of their experiences at the \u00a3842m Glasgow facility.(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
More than \u00a378m has been spent investigating and repairing a scandal-hit superhospital <\/a>since it opened a decade ago, the Sunday Mail can reveal.<\/p>\n The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital <\/a>(QEUH) which cost \u00a3842m to build, officially opened in Glasgow 10 years ago this month in a glittering ceremony attended by the late Queen Elizabeth.<\/p>\n But the celebrations quickly turned to misery for dozens of patients <\/a>who began developing rare bugs while being treated at the site.<\/p>\n Since July 2015, the Scottish Government<\/a>, NHS Glasgow and Greater Clyde (NHSGGC) and NHS National Services Scotland have shelled out at least \u00a378m on repairs, safety measures and a major public inquiry into construction of the QEUH<\/a> and adjoining Royal Hospital for Children (RHC).<\/p>\n That includes almost \u00a310m to fix ventilation in a child cancer ward, \u00a36m on tap filters, \u00a3880k on water and air testing and \u00a317m to fix the internal atrium and roof, according to new data obtained by the Sunday Mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n Grenfell-style cladding also had to be removed, costing \u00a34m and the ongoing public inquiry, including lawyers <\/a>for the NHS and government, has cost around \u00a332m so far.<\/p>\n However the eight figure sum doesn\u2019t include the costs of an ongoing \u00a391m lawsuit taken by NHSGGC against hospital <\/a>construction firm Brookfield Multiplex.<\/p>\n Anas Sarwar,<\/a> Scottish Labour leader, branded the hospital saga \u201cthe single biggest scandal in the devolution era\u201d and called for those responsible to be prosecuted.<\/p>\n Meanwhile families continue to struggle with the trauma of their experiences at the superhospital<\/a> over the last decade.<\/p>\n David Campbell\u2019s 11-year-old son James was treated for cancer at the hospital<\/a> in 2018. He was given infection-preventing drugs without his family\u2019s knowledge.<\/p>\n His admission was at the height of the infections scandal when medics were raising concerns about ventilation and patients were developing rare bugs.<\/p>\n Seven years later, James is facing a fresh nightmare after learning his cancer has returned. He is now being treated again at the RHC.<\/p>\n Dad David, 47. from Helensburgh said: \u201cWe were told it was safe in 2018 and now we know it wasn\u2019t. We\u2019re being told it\u2019s safe now. What do I tell my son?<\/p>\n \u201cHe is much more aware of things now and he asks if the hospital is safe.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely terrifying having to take him there again but we have no choice.<\/p>\n \u201cThe doctor who treats James is excellent and we trust him, but it\u2019s the safety of the building I can\u2019t get over.\u201d<\/p>\n After James had finished his first round of treatment seven years ago, David spoke publicly about his concerns with the hospital in the hope changes would be made to prevent other families suffering as they did.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI never expected for James to have to go back there and now I feel like I\u2019ve achieved nothing in the last five years.<\/p>\n \u201cThey say changes have been made but from where I\u2019m standing it\u2019s the same problems and the same bad attitude from the health board management.\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time ever in Scotland, NHSGGC has been named as a suspect in a corporate homicide probe into the deaths of four patients at the hospital campus, including cancer patients Milly Main, 10, and Gail Armstrong, 73.<\/p>\n The Scottish Labour leader said those responsible for the hospital\u2019s host of failures which result in patient deaths and suffering should have been prosecuted.<\/p>\n Sarwar said: \u201cI can\u2019t think of a single bigger scandal that\u2019s had human cost, government incompetence, institutional bias, systematic lies, a culture of cover up, secrecy and misinformation, disinformation and spin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere the institution has been seen as being more important to protect than individual families or their lives or children\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n \u201cThose who were ultimately responsible for this – those who were around when the hospital was designed, built, opened or when the ultimate tragedies happened and people were losing their lives, those people have never been held to account.<\/p>\n \u201cThey managed to go away with their probably golden pensions and payoffs and with the pretence of their reputation being intact.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my view, they should be in jail. That\u2019s how extreme this crisis and the whole situation is. It\u2019s completely unforgivable.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarwar also said the \u00a378m spent so far on the scandal was \u201c too high, but the human cost has been unimaginable\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cTake the death of Milly Main as an example. That\u2019s a pain that no matter what anyone does, no matter how many times you say sorry it\u2019s never going to make that right.<\/p>\n \u201cOn top of that these families are having to retell their stories, relive their trauma, fight every single day, to take baby steps of progress as they take on an institution protects itself rather than feeling as if the weight of government is on their side,<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a really harsh lesson we have to learn in Scotland. The system is rigged against the victim and in favor of the establishment.\u201d<\/p>\n In March solicitors at the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry stated they believed the QEUH had a ventilation system which remains unsafe and defective to this day, which NHSGGC has denied.<\/p>\n AN NHSGGC spokesman said they \u201cfully acknowledge the concerns of families and remain committed to supporting the ongoing inquiry to help answer these questions.\u201d<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt is clear that we did not get the specification or quality of the hospitals that we sought and legal proceedings are ongoing\u201d.<\/p>\n NHSGGC said it has taken \u201csignificant action to reduce environmental risks\u201d in the QEUH and RHC, and that the sites have \u201cbetter mortality rates than predicted\u201d with healthcare-associated infections \u201cin line with or below the national average.\u201d<\/p>\n The spokesman said: \u201cWe want to reassure patients, families, staff, and the public of our ongoing focus on patient safety and high-quality care.<\/p>\n Health Secretary Neil Gray said he didn\u2019t accept Sarwar\u2019s \u201ccharacterisation\u201d.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cWhile he tries to make political hay with these comments there is a very real human element here.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, my thoughts today are with the families who have lost a loved one at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in such tragic circumstances.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s an ongoing, independent inquiry \u2013 launched by Ministers – looking into the construction of the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cIts findings will be dealt with openly and honestly by this government.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are significant challenges at the hospital, as there are across the NHS, but most people experience professional, high-quality and loving care from staff at the Queen Elizabeth.\u201d<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-18-at-102741-AM-4JPEG.jpg\")
James Campbell, who was treated at the RHC for cancer at the age of four, is now undergoing more treatment after his cancer returned.(Image: HANDOUT)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1_PDP_SDR_101221_camp_001JPG.jpg\")
(Image: SUNDAY MAIL)<\/p>\n![\"Anas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1_Anas-Sarwar-Meets-With-Mother-Of-Milly-Main-Girl-Who-Contracted-Fatal-Infection-At-Glasgow-Hospita.webp\")
Anas Sarwar with Kimberley Darroch(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Milly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1_JS234015697.jpg\")
Milly Main (left ) Kimberly Darroch (right)(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n