{"id":536899,"date":"2026-01-28T13:10:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=536899"},"modified":"2026-01-28T13:10:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T13:10:51","slug":"multiplex-denies-liability-in-scottish-hospital-infections-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/buildings\/multiplex-denies-liability-in-scottish-hospital-infections-case-28-01-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Multiplex denies liability in Scottish hospital infections case"},"content":{"rendered":"

Multiplex has renewed its denial that it bears responsibility for issues at a flagship Glasgow hospital where immunocompromised children were seriously infected.<\/p>\n

In a statement to Construction News<\/em>, the contractor insisted the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) was delivered \u201con time, on budget, and fully certified\u201d before opening in 2015.<\/p>\n

The company, then known as Brookfield Multiplex, said all work had met contract requirements and was signed off by third parties.<\/p>\n

The firm\u2019s response followed the closing statement of a Scottish Government inquiry into the \u00a3845m scheme, released last week.<\/p>\n

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), which operates the QEUH, conceded that the hospital opened \u201ctoo early\u201d and was \u201cnot ready\u201d, citing unresolved ventilation and water system issues at the time of handover.<\/p>\n

NHSGGC said it accepted it was \u201cmore likely than not\u201d that problems with the hospital\u2019s water system contributed to some infections between 2016 and 18 among children being treated for blood diseases and cancers.<\/p>\n

There was a \u201clack of HEPA [high efficiency particulate air] filtration\u201d to purify air and poor air quality in areas where immunocompromised patients were treated, the inquiry\u2019s legal counsel added.<\/p>\n

The counsel said these shortcomings were identified during design and construction but had not been fully resolved by the time the hospital opened.<\/p>\n

On the water system at the hospital, the counsel said: \u201cThe water system at the QEUH suffered from design flaws, early filling, inadequate commissioning and a failure to act on critical risk assessments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Multiplex, which faces legal action over alleged defects at the campus<\/a>, maintained it had \u201cno knowledge\u201d of how the water system had been maintained in the years following completion.<\/p>\n

It said problems only began to arise several years after the building was handed over.<\/p>\n

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry<\/a>, launched in 2020, has heard evidence from 186 witnesses.<\/p>\n

The inquiry counsel said issues were identified during design and construction but had not been resolved when the facility opened.<\/p>\n

Multiplex said that it continues to engage with the inquiry but declined to comment further, citing ongoing legal proceedings.<\/p>\n

The inquiry\u2019s final report is expected later this year.<\/p>\n

However, the counsel said the health board failed to follow available guidance on safe water management, including appointing key responsible staff.<\/p>\n

The counsel said the evidence showed there were “systemic failures” by NHSGCC in the procurement, design, commissioning and management of the hospital’s water system.<\/p>\n

Multiplex was responsible for the design and build of the QEUH campus, which opened in 2015.<\/p>\n

But the contractor has argued the incidents took place \u201cseveral years\u201d after the hospital was completed and had \u201cno knowledge\u201d of how the water system had been maintained by NHSGGC.<\/p>\n

The contractor, along with its partners, has faced legal action over alleged defects at the hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NHSGGC said in the closing statement that legal action against Multiplex arising from some of the \u201cissues\u201d was \u201congoing\u201d.<\/p>\n

NHSGGC was contacted for comment. In a message posted on its website on Monday (24 January), the board apologised for \u201chistorical failings\u201d highlighted by the inquiry.<\/p>\n

It added that a programme of maintenance and monitoring was in place to ensure the quality and safety of the hospital today.<\/p>\n

Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has denied applying pressure to open the hospital or being aware of safety concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Multiplex has renewed its denial that it bears responsibility for issues at a flagship Glasgow hospital where immunocompromised children were seriously infected. In a statement to Construction News, the contractor insisted the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) was delivered \u201con time, on budget, and fully certified\u201d before opening in 2015. The company, then known as …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29901,"featured_media":406992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[547,541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-536899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buildings","category-multiplex"],"yoast_head":"\nMultiplex denies liability in Scottish hospital infections case | Construction News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Multiplex has renewed its denial that it bears responsibility for issues at a flagship Glasgow hospital where immunocompromised children were seriously\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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