January 24 2019

The Scottish government has instigated an independent review into the design of Govan’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

This follows disclosure that an ‘invisible’ gap on the 12th floor had allowed pigeons to enter a plant room, depositing excrement which subsequently led to bacteria finding its way into the closed ventilation system, considered to be a contributing factor behind the death of a child.

In a statement before parliament health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I agreed that a review should take place, with external expert advice. That review will look at the building’s design, the commissioning of the work and the construction, handover and maintenance of the building to identify where issues were raised that should have been addressed and where current maintenance programmes should perhaps be more robust or frequent.

“It is right that we should consider whether, in its totality, the fabric of the Queen Elizabeth university hospital is as fit for purpose as we require it to be and that, if there are lessons to be learned, we should take those and apply them across the rest of our health system in Scotland, particularly where we have the commissioning of new build.”

Freeman will present the government’s response to the reviews recommendations by the end of the week.

Prior concerns about the infection threat posed by pigeons prompted a series of anti-bird measures to be deployed, including spikes and hawks, at the IBI Group designed building.

9 Comments

#1 Posted by Rob on 24 Jan 2019 at 14:00 PM

From my experience of staying in it, the build quality is very poor. nothing really worked as it should. Goodness knows what it will be like in 20 years time.

#2 Posted by Fraser on 24 Jan 2019 at 21:43 PM

I believe the contractor was Multiplex who are now developing the new University of Glasgow campus - does not boad well for the future students!

#3 Posted by Asimov on 25 Jan 2019 at 09:29 AM

#2 Fraser - contractor just builds according to design. To my best knowledge this wasn't D&B scheme. Is it ugly, overscaled, and generally a failure? Probably yes. Nothing changed in Glasgow then.

#4 Posted by MV on 25 Jan 2019 at 11:21 AM

#4 The contractor almost NEVER EVER builds according to design. That’s especially true in D&B's where they will cut every corner imaginable- and unimaginable - to make more profit. If you add this to the window panes falling out and other complaints noted above, then the contractor needs to be brought to account.

#5 Posted by MV on 25 Jan 2019 at 11:46 AM

#3 I mean!! Obviously I work for a D&B contractor...

#6 Posted by Asimov on 25 Jan 2019 at 12:45 PM

#4 MV - Hence the question - was it or was it not D&B contract? Where's usual chain of command - 'independent' design checkers, clien't quality inspectors, etc. Not that I'm defending contractor, but there's a line of people to point the finger at usually in that cases.

#7 Posted by Goodness on 25 Jan 2019 at 13:24 PM

Good to see the Scottish Property Indusrty Pulling Together, Team Effort ......no blame culture ..... no finger pointing

#TeamEffort

#8 Posted by Inahuf on 27 Jan 2019 at 22:28 PM

#6 it was D&B https://www.multiplex.global/projects/the-queen-elizabeth-university-hospital-the-royal-hospital-for-children-glasgow-scotland/

#9 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 4 Feb 2019 at 10:00 AM

Another to add to the list -- "invisible gap".

The "pantheon" of Holyrood / Auld Reekie civil service shambles just gets larger and larger.

Add in low rent flunkie with a variable political compass to mouth platitudes and the scale of the crisis becomes apparent.

Super this, super that -- just means that the price goes up, the build quality goes down and the design was phoned in by people who did not care.

We are paying good money for second rate design and a tick box facilities management regime all looked after by a low rent nomenclatura / old pals act who are good at spending other peoples money.

Plook on a Plinth and then some.
The same design vibe as Cumbernauld Town Centre.

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