Molly never got to hear it': fury as denials finally end on Glasgow hospital infections

"All Molly Cuddihy wanted was recognition of what she had gone through. That was what she told the Scottish hospitals inquiry in 2021, where she described the frightening fits and rigors she had suffered after contracting a bacterial infection at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth university hospital while undergoing chemotherapy. I was made sicker by the environment, the 19-year-old said in her evidence."

"You had a critically ill teenager who could see what was materially wrong with the hospital building in 2018, said her father, John. He said the clinical care his daughter received was world-class a sentiment echoed by all the families affected by this scandal but the basic principles of providing a safe and secure environment in which those clinicians could operate were simply absent."

"After years of denial, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde finally admitted this week that serious infections in 84 child cancer patients, two of whom died, were probably caused by a contaminated water system at its flagship hospital. The arduous delay in accepting what patients, families and whistleblowers had been telling hospital and health board management since the 842m super-hospital first opened in 2015 piled avoidable distress and harm on already suffering families, John says."

Molly Cuddihy, diagnosed with rare bone cancer at 15, contracted a bacterial infection at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital while receiving chemotherapy and suffered severe fits and rigors. Her family described clinical care as world-class but said the hospital environment caused additional harm. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde admitted that contaminated water probably caused serious infections in 84 child cancer patients, with two deaths linked. Years of denial and delayed acceptance of patient, family and whistleblower concerns amplified distress and damage. Molly died after organs were weakened by powerful drugs used to treat infections and cancer therapy. A six-year public inquiry reached final stages with new admissions.

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