£1BILLION HOSPITAL 'OPENED TOO SOON'

SCOTLAND'S £1billion super-hospital opened too early, despite safety fears over its design, an inquiry has heard.

- BY CHRIS MCCALL

It comes after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) admitted infections of some child cancer patients were probably linked to the water system at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Health board bosses previously denied bacteria in the water at the flagship hospital (QEUH) campus was to blame.

The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry is holding its final sessions this week.

In its closing statement, NHSGGC said: "Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear the hospital opened too early. It was not ready."

Meanwhile, Scottish Labour said the fingerprints of senior SNP figures, including John Swinney, were "all over" the hospital decision to admit patients in April 2015 - weeks before a UK general election.

Jackie Baillie told MSPs the opening of the QEUH was overseen by veteran Nationalists, including the then health secretary now Finance Secretary Shona Robison, and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.