Mould growth has been found in a cancer ward at a flagship hospital which was partially closed due to mould and dirty water ingress, the Health Secretary has confirmed.
Neil Gray said he was made aware on Thursday morning that mould growth was found in one of the rooms on the bone marrow transplant ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow.
The hospital, one of the largest in the UK, is subject to a national inquiry amid deaths and infections linked to its water and ventilation systems.
Responding to questions in Holyrood on the water and mould ingress issues at the hospital from Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher, Mr Gray 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 February 19, 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.”
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, which cares for bone marrow transplant patients, on Thursday February 26.
It was escalated to a red warning on March 5, before returning to amber.
Mr 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.
Ms Gallacher said: “He (Mr Gray) is right to say that there is media interest, but of course the public will be concerned at the developments.
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“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.
“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?”
Mr Gray responded that he had visited the QEUH last week and mitigations are being taken to continue to use the ward.
He said: “I had the pleasure to visit the ward staff last Wednesday and to hear directly from them as to the mitigations that are being taken by clinical staff to continue to see the ward being safe, because it continues to be used.
“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.”
Commenting on the news that mould growth has been found in a cancer ward at 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.”
A statement from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “As has been reported, we have an active incident management team looking into ward 4B, including representation from ARHAI.
“As part of our ongoing environmental screening, repeated sampling of affected rooms is undertaken.
“Patient safety is the priority. A potential mould has been identified from a single swab from the wash-hand basin in room 85.
“A full deep clean of the area has subsequently taken place.
“It is important to note that this room has been out of use and sealed off throughout this time period and remains so as we await final results.”
