Health inspectors have found that ‘widespread contamination’ of water at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children led to 23 children contracting bloodstream infections.
The cases relate to the period between the 29th January and 26th September 2018 and concern wards of patients with compromised immune systems.
Testing carried out across the sites found contamination in taps and drains at both hospitals.
No further infections have been found since the closure of the affected 2A and 2B wards – which house the National Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the children’s hospital.
In a statement NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “There have been no cases of infection associated with water since September 2018.
“Our engineering teams have installed a water treatment system within the Royal Hospital for Children and are working on the new system for the adult hospital.
“Over the past few months, whilst our investigations continued, our overriding priority has always been the safety of our patients.
“We are sorry that a number of young patients in our care suffered an infection and also apologise for the inconvenience and worry that the families in wards 2A and B in particular will have experienced.”
The report has recommended that any hospitals built after 2013 be reviewed to insure similar incidents do not occur elsewhere.
