Scottish scandal-ridden hospital repairs to cost taxpayers £170m

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) needs the funding to fix faults in the building, the Mail on Sunday reports.

Police are still investigating the deaths of three children and four adults who contracted infections at the hospital.

NHS bosses have admitted that contaminated water at the hospital was probably linked to serious infections contracted by young cancer patients.

There have also been issues with the ventilation system, in particular in areas where patients have low immune systems.

The Mail on Sunday reported that an additional £120m worth of repairs are needed on top of the £50m which has already been spent.

Miles Briggs, the Scottish Tory health spokesman, said: “Taxpayers will be furious that, yet another eye-watering bill is emerging for the QEUH, on top of the hundreds of millions already spent dealing with this SNP-made scandal.

“If ministers expect the public to stump up another £120 million, they must come clean about exactly what has gone so badly wrong and where every penny will be spent.”

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Freedom of Information requests showed that “rectification works” to the hospital are “circa £120,000,000”.

This include a new bone marrow transplant unit. The existing one has had problems with leaks and mould.

Mr Briggs added: “The SNP’s mishandling of Scotland’s flagship hospital has already cost patients, staff and taxpayers dearly.

“After years of secrecy and cover-ups, they owe the public full transparency and accountability.”

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Scottish Labour health spokeswoman Dame Jackie Baillie said: “These are huge sums of money and there needs to be transparency about what it is for.”

The Mail on Sunday reported that spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was unable to confirm what the extra £120m would be spent on.

But they said: “While a range of potential rectification costs across the wider QEUH estate have been identified and estimated, these figures remain indicative.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Ministers have been clear they would welcome consideration of any proposals relating to remediation works, including for a new bone marrow transplant unit.”