'There's no trust left' as hospital infection row grows

A row erupted over the tap water ban after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) initially told this newspaper that patients had never been advised that the water was not suitable for drinking.

Health chiefs then issued a letter to parents on Friday evening, following contact from The Herald, stating that “at no time have we instructed patients not to drink the tap water” but encouraging them to speak to nurses if they had concerns. 

READ MORE: Health secretary Jeane Freeman reassured family of hospital safety weeks before teenager contracted rare infection 

It prompted several parents, who have never spoken out before about their concerns over the situation, to come forward and make the startling claims over a loss of trust in the QEUH management. 

Annemarie Kirkpatrick, from Dumfries, was among those to share her experiences at the hospital.

Yesterday, the 35-year-old told our sister paper The Herald on Sunday how her 15-year-old daughter Stevie-Jo had become infected with Mycobacterium chelonae from the QEUH water supply.

She said children were told to stop drinking the hospital’s tap water when they moved from the Royal Hospital For Children to the adjacent QEUH after dozens of children were struck down with infections at the children’s hospital.

Now father Alfie Rawson, 47, from Glasgow, has joined Ms Kirkpatrick in speaking out about his family’s concerns, saying there is simply “no trust” left in hospital management.

Mr Rawson’s three-year-old daughter Paige has been receiving treatment at the super-hospital since a cancer diagnosis in August 2018.

He said: “There is no trust left between parents and the people running that hospital – and we will not stay silent any more.

“I don’t know how they can say that the kids can drink the tap water. There are signs all over the ward and above all the sinks, saying it is for hand washing only. The nurses have told us to use bottled water, and they have even shown us where to get it. 

“I just didn’t feel like I could sit in silence any more – they have gone too far and it feels as though they are not telling us the truth.”

Paige has caught three infections, including one of a pseudomonas, while at the Govan site but none of them have been confirmed as having come from the hospital.

Mr Rawson said: “The situation is just terrible, not just for us but for every family that’s in there. My daughter has got three infections – at least one of them is related to water but they say it’s not from the hospital.

READ MORE: Labour: Public inquiry needed following hospital scandals 

“Every day is torture. There is no certainty in the life that we are living. We don’t know about things that are going on now, and we have to take a stand and ask for proof and see that it is a safe environment to bring our kids.”

“There is no trust left between parents and the people running that hospital, and we will not stay silent any more.

“Everything is a cover up. They don’t like to tell you what’s going on, it feels like when you ask questions they try to push you out the door. Our consultants have been incredible, I can’t say anything bad about the medical staff, they care so much about the children, they’ve saved my child’s life. But it feels like they are being asked to explain the problems or try and reassure us, when the evidence that there is something wrong is right in front of our eyes.

“For us, we didn’t speak out during frontline treatment, we didn’t want Paige’s care compromised. As much as they say it wouldn’t we always have the fear that it will.

“Now we are finished frontline treatment, and we are in maintenance treatment but we still use the hospital - the fear of what’s ahead is always there. We don’t know if she will relapse, but the thought of having her readmitted is unbearable.”

The Herald can also reveal that 13 children have become infected with pathogens while receiving treatment for cancer at the QEUH.

NHSGGC board papers state that between April and August, 12 children were infected with various bacteria including three with rare bloodstream infections.

The health board confirmed last night that they have investigated another infection since the documents were published on August 20, bringing the total to 13.

A spokesman said one of the cases, they found “ the type of bacteria to be widespread in the general domestic water supply and in the water supply to public buildings.” but insisted the levels of infection were “within accepted background levels”.

He added: “The risk of infection can never be completely eliminated and some people have a higher chance of acquiring an infection than others. Our responsibility when caring for our patients is to assess that risk and to put in place appropriate measures to stop infection or prevent its spread.

“The infection rates within ward 6A are consistent with infection rates at the old Yorkhill Hospital. This is in keeping with recognised background rates which are approximately two-three per month. These rates have been reported and scrutinised at our public board meetings. One further infection – within accepted background levels - has been reported since this time.

“There is nothing to link the infections to the ward’s infection control practices or the environment.

“In one case, we found the type of bacteria to be widespread in the general domestic water supply and in the water supply to public buildings.

“As a further precaution to our well established infection control practices, we therefore extended the fitting of point of use filters on taps to other areas of the hospital.

“We have been committed throughout to keeping all parents/carers informed of the work we have undertaken to enhance the environment on the ward. Ward 6A remains closed to new admissions as a precaution.

“At no time have we instructed patients not to drink the tap water. Bone Marrow Transplant patients are supplied bottled sterilised water in line with UK-wide practice.”

When asked again why parents were supplied bottled water, and about signs stating the tap water was only for hand-washing, a spokeswoman said: “We have been providing bottled water to parents whilst the ongoing enhancements to the ward have been taking place.

“The water supply has been independently tested and is wholesome. This means the water is safe to drink including the hand washing sinks. However we do not encourage patients in any of our wards to drink from the these sinks as people are using them to wash their hands.

“We continue to offer bottle water to the parents.”

Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon yesterday issued a fresh call for a public inquiry, saying cabinet health secretary Jeane Freeman had “failed to rebuild public confidence” in the £842m facility.

She said: “Parents are starting to speak out about the harrowing experiences they have endured at the QEUH.

“Children with cancer are extremely vulnerable and it’s worrying that families feel the Health Secretary is not taking their concerns seriously.

“Jeane Freeman has failed to rebuild confidence in the QEUH and provide the answers and safeguards the public needs.

“Scottish Labour is extremely concerned that children in Scotland are being let down by not one hospital scandal but two and it is a matter of public interest that Nicola Sturgeon agrees to a public inquiry into the QEUH and Sick Kids scandals without any further delay.

“In the case of the QEUH, the public must be told how many patients, including children and young people, have contracted infections in the hospital and when she addresses Parliament this week about the Sick Kids fiasco, the Health Secretary must also set out when children will finally get access to the hospital they were promised.” confirmed as having come from the hospital.”

Mr Rawson added: “My daughter has got three infections – at least one of them is related to water but they say it’s not from the hospital.

“Every day is torture. There is no certainty in the life that we are living. We don’t know about things that are going on now, and we have to take a stand and ask for proof and see that it is a safe environment to bring our kids.

“There is no trust left between parents and the people running the hospital, and we will not stay silent any more.

“Everything is a cover-up. They don’t like to tell you what’s going on, it feels like when you ask questions they try to push you out the door. 

“Our consultants have been incredible – I can’t say anything bad about the medical staff, they care so much about the children, they’ve saved my child’s life. 

"But it feels like they are being asked to explain the problems or try and reassure us, when the evidence that there is something wrong is right in front of our eyes.

“For us, we didn’t speak out during frontline treatment, we didn’t want Paige’s care compromised. As much as they say it wouldn’t we always have the fear that it will."

NHSGGC board papers state that between April and August, 12 children were infected with various bacteria, including three with rare bloodstream infections. It confirmed last night it has investigated another infection since the documents were published on August 20 – a total of 13.

A spokesman said they found in one case “the type of bacteria to be widespread in the general domestic water supply and in the water supply to public buildings”, but insisted the levels of infection were “within accepted background levels”.

He added: “As a further precaution to our well established infection control practices, we therefore extended the fitting of point of use filters on taps to other areas of the hospital.”

The spokesman went on: “The risk of infection can never be completely eliminated and some people have a higher chance of acquiring an infection than others. Our responsibility when caring for our patients is to assess that risk and to put in place appropriate measures to stop infection or prevent its spread.

“The infection rates within ward 6A are consistent with infection rates at the old Yorkhill Hospital. This is in keeping with recognised background rates which are approximately two-to-three per month. 

“One further infection – within accepted background levels – has been reported since this time. There is nothing to link the infections to the ward’s infection control practices or the environment.

“We have been committed throughout to keeping all parents and carers informed of the work we have undertaken to enhance the environment on the ward. Ward 6A remains closed to new admissions as a precaution.

“At no time have we instructed patients not to drink the tap water. Bone marrow transplant patients are supplied bottled sterilised water in line with UK-wide practice.”

Asked again why parents were supplied bottled water, and about signs stating tap water was only for hand-washing, a spokeswoman said: “We have been providing bottled water to parents while the ongoing enhancements to the ward have been taking place.

“The water supply has been independently tested and is wholesome. This means the water is safe to drink, including the hand-washing sinks. 

“However, we do not encourage patients in any of our wards to drink from these sinks as people are using them to wash their hands. 

“We continue to offer bottled water to the parents.”

Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon has again issued a call for a public inquiry, saying Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has “failed to rebuild public confidence” in the £842 million facility.

She added: “Parents are starting to speak out about the harrowing experiences they have endured at the QEUH.“Children with cancer are extremely vulnerable and it’s worrying that families feel the Health Secretary is not taking their concerns seriously.”

“Jeane Freeman has failed to rebuild confidence in the QEUH and provide the answers and safeguards the public needs.

“Scottish Labour is extremely concerned that children in Scotland are being let down by not one hospital scandal but two and it is a matter of public interest that Nicola Sturgeon agrees to a public inquiry into the QEUH and Sick Kids scandals without any further delay.

“In the case of the QEUH, the public must be told how many patients, including children and young people, have contracted infections in the hospital and when she addresses Parliament this week about the Sick Kids fiasco, the Health Secretary must also set out when children will finally get access to the hospital they were promised.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Ms Freeman has commissioned an independent review to look at the QEUH building’s design, commissioning, handover and ongoing maintenance to establish how these matters contribute to effective infection prevention and the inquiry team have received evidence which they are currently reviewing.”