A Father’s Harrowing Account: ‘Not Fit for Animals’ – The QEUH Water Scandal
The grim reality of a child’s cancer treatment at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) has been laid bare by a father who claims a cleaner warned him the tap water on his son’s ward was so contaminated it was “not fit for animals.” David Campbell, whose son James battled a rare form of cancer, alleges that by 2018, the insanitary conditions at the QEUH and its neighbouring Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) were an “open secret” among staff, posing a potentially lethal threat to vulnerable young patients.
Campbell recounts being visibly distressed by the cleaner’s stark warning. Compounding his alarm, nurses on the ward reportedly confided in him, expressing their fears that “It won’t be the cancer that kills your child, it will be an infection.” These chilling statements paint a disturbing picture of a healthcare environment where basic necessities like safe drinking water were compromised.
The ongoing investigations into seven deaths linked to the QEUH and RHC, spearheaded by Police Scotland and the Crown Office, are examining the possibility of corporate homicide charges. Among the tragic victims are 23-year-old Molly Cuddihy, ten-year-old Milly Main, and two other children whose identities remain undisclosed. Simultaneously, the Hospitals Inquiry, led by judge Lord Brodie, continues its deep dive into the scandal that enveloped these state-of-the-art facilities, where critical water and ventilation systems were found to be fatally flawed.
David Campbell, whose son James fortunately survived his ordeal, has provided crucial evidence to the inquiry and has now shared further harrowing details of his family’s experiences at the QEUH and RHC.
A Child’s Ward: A Disturbing Discovery
The first inkling of trouble for Campbell came not from official channels, but from an unlikely source – a cleaner on the children’s cancer ward. In 2018, his four-year-old son James was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Shortly after their admission to ward 2A, the cleaner approached Campbell with a grave piece of advice.
“I first heard there were concerns about the tap water on the children’s cancer ward from a cleaner,” Campbell stated. “My four-year-old son James had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2018.”
The cleaner’s words were stark and alarming: “‘I wouldn’t let my dog drink the water in here,’ she told me.” Campbell also observed unsettling signs posted on bathroom doors, instructing users to run the shower for five minutes before use – a clear indication of underlying water quality issues.
Daily Struggles and Silent Fears
The implications of the water contamination extended to the most basic aspects of patient care. Campbell revealed that other families on the ward were also taking extreme precautions. “Other families said they weren’t cleaning their children’s teeth using the taps at sinks,” he shared.
Despite the “brilliant” care provided by nurses to his son James, obtaining definitive answers about water safety proved to be an arduous task. This led the Campbell family to adopt a “bizarre routine” for James’s hygiene.
- They resorted to washing him with mild wet wipes.
- They used cold bottled water, purchased from the hospital’s Marks & Spencer store, for his care.
The nurses’ quiet anxieties echoed Campbell’s own fears, as they confided, “‘It won’t be the cancer that kills your child, it will be an infection’.” This sentiment underscored the pervasive sense of danger that overshadowed the treatment of these young patients.
Relocation and a Growing Network of Concern
Soon after these disturbing revelations, the children’s Schiehallion Unit was abruptly closed, with no official explanation provided. James was subsequently transferred to an inadequately equipped ward within the main hospital building, a space originally designed for adult patients.
Campbell observed a worrying trend: “There seemed to be a number of children falling seriously ill.” In response to the growing concerns, parents established a Facebook group to share information and support one another. However, this attempt at open communication was met with further distress.
“When it appeared, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had planted a member to monitor the chat,” Campbell alleged. This revelation forced the group to migrate to a different forum, seeking a safe space for their discussions. Amidst this turmoil, Campbell reached out to Jeane Freeman, who was then the Scottish health secretary. He was informed that Freeman had discussed the matter with Jane Grant, the chief executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), and that the situation was being monitored.
“There have since been many more emails to people who could have helped, but didn’t,” Campbell lamented, expressing his deep disappointment with the lack of decisive action from those in positions of authority.
He also recalled a disturbing practice where his son and other children were administered anti-fungal drugs, only later realising that these were not a standard component of their cancer treatment regimens.
Shattered Trust and a Call for Accountability
The emotional and psychological toll on David Campbell has been immense. Now 48, of Balloch, Dunbartonshire, he states that his faith in NHS management and the government has been “destroyed.” He expressed his profound shock at the “lack of remorse” displayed by senior managers at NHSGGC, describing it as “staggering.”
“It shocks me that no one has lost their job over what happened,” Campbell asserted, highlighting a perceived lack of accountability at the highest levels.
NHSGGC has since acknowledged that the water supply was “likely” to have caused fatalities. However, the health board also stated, “‘Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time [April 2015]… It was not ready.'” These admissions have cast a shadow over the decisions made by those in charge. First Minister John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon, who was First Minister in 2015, have both denied exerting pressure on the health board regarding the hospital’s opening. The ongoing inquiries and investigations continue to seek clarity and justice for the families affected by this devastating scandal.
