Inquiry call after bacteria outbreak at Glasgow kid's hospital

A government investigation should be held into a bacteria outbreak at a children's hospital after it caused treatment delays for child cancer patients, Scottish Labour has said.

The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow has had a fresh bacteria outbreak in the children's cancer wards 2A and 2B. Picture: John Devlin

The party’s health spokesman Anas Sarwar said the daughter of one of his constituents had her chemotherapy delayed three separate times due to the bacteraemia outbreak at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions today, he said: “She asked me to ask directly how many cases of chemotherapy have been delayed due to bacterial and safety concerns affecting the hospital?

“Can the First Minister please address this directly, but also ask the Cabinet Secretary to instigate an urgent investigation of hospital to give full answers and full transparency in the interests of those patients, their families and the wider community, and to guarantee that we can minimise the risk of this ever happening again.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon did not concede to calls for health secretary Jeane Freeman to launch an investigation, but said she would ask her to look into the case being raised.

She said she would provide Mr Sarwar with the number of chemotherapy delays and described the situation as “deeply regrettable”.

“The primary concern of the health board and indeed of the Scottish Government is the safety and wellbeing of children and their families at the hospital,” she said.

“While no patients with bacterial infections are currently giving cause for concern, it’s very important that all precautions are taken to prevent any further infection.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said earlier this week 22 of the hospital’s child cancer patients had been moved to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital while an internal investigation was carried out.

Between January and June, the children’s hospital had issues with its water supply in wards 2A and 2B leading to a number of cases of bacteraemia, where bacteria is found in blood.

The health board said the investigation had been launched as six new cases were identified, following a lull after parts in taps were replaced and filters and drains washed with chlorine-based detergent.