Lord Brodie to chair hospital construction inquiry

Court of Session judge Lord Brodie is to chair the public inquiry into issues at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) campus in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children & Young People (RHCYP) in Edinburgh.

The inquiry, announced by Health Secretary Jeane Freeman in September following the postponement of the opening of the Edinburgh hospital, will examine how serious problems relating to key building systems, such as ventilation, and infrastructure occurred, and what steps can be taken to prevent these in future projects.

The Health Secretary will meet with Lord Brodie to discuss terms of reference and timescales for the inquiry, which will report to the Parliament next year.

Ms Freeman said: "I announced this independent public inquiry following concerns, including from parents and families, over the quality of our NHS major infrastructure, its safety and compliance with standards and the impact that has on the delivery of healthcare to patients. This is crucial work and I am pleased that a person of Lord Brodie’s stature and legal standing will lead this important inquiry."

She added: "I have a statutory obligation to consult with the chair on the inquiry’s terms of reference, and I also intend to share these with patients and families. I will provide a further update to Parliament early in the new year."

A separate independent review into the QEUH led by Dr Andrew Fraser and Dr Brian Montgomery is gathering evidence, with a view to publishing its findings in spring 2020.