Glasgow, February 1, 2026 —
Investigations are underway into the deaths of nine patients at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, following evidence of contaminated water and potential political interference in the hospital’s opening.
- Prosecutors are investigating the deaths of seven patients, with two additional deaths now under scrutiny.
- The investigations stem from infections contracted by cancer patients, many of them children, linked to the hospital’s water system.
- Evidence suggests political pressure was applied to open the hospital in April 2015, before it was fully ready.
Investigations are now underway into the deaths of nine patients at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), after concerns were raised about contaminated water and potential political interference in the hospital’s opening, according to a statement released Saturday by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
Investigation Expanded
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The COPFS confirmed that the cases of 23-year-old Molly Cuddihy and Andrew Slorance, a former Scottish government civil servant, are among those being examined. The agency pledged to keep the families of the deceased informed of progress, according to the statement.
Cuddihy, who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer at age 15, received treatment at the Royal Hospital for Children and the adjacent QEUH. She died last August, with her organs irreparably weakened by both cancer treatment and infections, the COPFS stated.
This expands upon previous investigations into four deaths, including that of 10-year-old Milly Main, who died in 2017, two other children, and 73-year-old Gail Armstrong, who died in 2019 after contracting a fungal infection, the COPFS confirmed.
Additionally, the COPFS said it received a report concerning the 2021 death of 65-year-old Anthony Dynes, who was also being treated at the QEUH.
Contaminated Water System
A six-year public inquiry recently concluded, revealing evidence from the health board that serious infections in 84 child cancer patients, two of whom died, were likely caused by the contaminated water system.
“Serious infections in 84 child cancer patients…were probably caused by the contaminated water system,” – Glasgow health board admission to the public inquiry.
Political Pressure Allegations
The investigations come after Scottish Labour presented evidence suggesting political pressure was applied to open the QEUH campus in April 2015, just before a general election. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar stated he had “damning evidence” from minutes of meetings between Glasgow health board officials and the Scottish government, alleging that the hospital was opened prematurely.
These allegations have been denied by both First Minister John Swinney and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Sarwar told MSPs that opening the hospital early resulted in “a decade of lies, deceit and cover-up,” and infections that led to deaths, claiming “politics was put before patient safety.”
Health Board Response
The health board has issued a “sincere and unreserved apology” to those affected and stated it is now a “very different organisation” than the one involved in the hospital’s initial design and construction. However, three senior microbiologists who initially raised concerns about infection control told the inquiry they still have “significant concerns” about the implementation of necessary changes by senior management.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by The Guardian and added independent analysis and context.
