NHS chiefs gave £250k bonus to firm behind infection scandal QEUH hospital
Health chiefs gave a £250,000 eco-bonus to a firm it is now suing over its defective superhospital.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) paid Brookfield Multiplex for achieving certain environmental credentials at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), despite the site being riddled with problems.
A public inquiry is looking at issues with the construction of the £842million facility where dozens of patients developed rare infections and some people died.
Evidence heard by the inquiry showed a £250,000 payment was included in the contract if the developers hit energy consumption targets, known as 'Breeam'.
The QEUH was given a Breeam rating of 'excellent' when it was finished, meeting the UK-wide government aim at the time.
Louise Slorance's government advisor husband Andrew died while awaiting a bone marrow transplant in 2020. She said: 'Families have suffered harm and death as a result of substandard systems at the QEUH.
'The realisation the lives of our loved ones were worth just £250,000 is yet another gut punch.'
To meet their targets contractors used a temperature control system called chilled beams.
Specialist healthcare architect Emma White described it as 'a more innovative and sustainable way of cooling rooms which required less energy…'.
The inquiry previously heard these chilled beams developed a problem with leaking and water ended up dripping into wards.
NHSGGC is suing Brookfield Multiplex for the flaws at the site with £18.2million added to their compensation claim for problems with the chilled beam system.
Documents submitted by White showed contractors also agreed having an air circulation rate required by healthcare watchdogs was 'energy intensive and not necessary'.
Dozens of patients were infected with water-related and airborne bugs at the QEUH. Some died including Milly Main, 10, and Gail Armstrong, 73, whose deaths are being probed by the police.
NHSGGC is a suspect in the corporate homicide probe into their deaths and the deaths of two other patients.
Louise said: 'Despite some witnesses stating green standards were not prioritised over patient safety, our experience tells a different story.
"Sealed windows, low air turnovers and temperature control units using water were chosen for their environmental credentials yet they negatively impacted on the safety of our family members. Some never saw outside the hospital again and for others, the harm continues to this day.'
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'The deaths at the QEUH are the worst scandal in the history of devolution and it is outrageous that the contractors behind the building were rewarded for their failure. These payments make it clear the management of this project was utterly dysfunctional from day one and building safety was not made a priority.
'There can be no more secrecy and cover-up from the SNP – bereaved families and the Scottish public deserve to know the truth.'
NHSGGC said matters relating to QEUH's construction are 'part of the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry and we continue to support them in their ongoing investigations'.
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