Families involved in an inquiry into Glasgow’s superhospital fear delays after a court ruling on a controversial report.
Last year, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde tried to submit its own report to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry into infections at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).
The NHSGGC report stated there had been no excess infections at the site since 2015, contradicting the inquiry’s expert report.
Inquiry chair Lord Brodie chose not to accept the new document. NHSGGC took the decision to court and Lady Morag Wise ruled the reasons for rejecting it were unfair.
It is understood the health board will now try to resubmit the 218-page document to the inquiry which is looking at whether the QEUH construction could be linked to infections in patients there.
Lawyers representing most of the families said their clients are concerned about the impact of the court judgement.
Stephanie Spencer, a lawyer from Thompsons Solicitors, said: “Our clients remain very concerned by this new legal development.
“They are very concerned any new report could cause delay and more distress.
“There will also be huge financial implications with the health board commissioning a new report. That cost will ultimately have to be met by the taxpayer.”
NHSGGC said: “We will engage with the inquiry team about the next steps in submitting a fresh application for the inquiry to receive the independent expert report.”
An inquiry spokesman said: “Lord Brodie refused NHSGGC’s application for reasons of principle and practicality. If the report had been accepted to be heard as evidence during Glasgow III, the hearings would have been postponed.”
He added the inquiry “will now consider the evidential relevance of NHSGGC’s report”.
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