Construction workers sabotaged Scotland's superhospital, allowing raw sewage to enter the wards, an investigation has said.

Construction workers committed “deliberate acts of sabotage” at Scotland's superhospital by blocking drainpipes, allowing sewage to enter wards, an investigation published yesterday revealed.

The dramatic claim came from a former NHS property manager who said his team had faced “constant firefighting” at the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus since it opened in 2015.

Former NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Estates manager Ian Powrie gave evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Brodie KC, will investigate whether infections among patients at the £840 million Glasgow hospital campus are linked to problems with construction, ventilation and water supplies.

Speaking about the “pressure” he faced following the handover of the building from construction company Multiplex to the NHS, Mr Powrie said: “I have raised concerns on several occasions in one-to-one meetings with my manager that I am unable to carry out my duties and those of my team effectively due to the high pressure of tackling critical issues on a daily basis.”

He said this included sewage that entered the hospital due to blockages in the water system.

Some of this came from “construction debris in the main underground drains” that entered the adult and pediatric wards on the ground floor and the emergency department.

However, he also said there had been “blockages” in the system serving other areas that had been deliberately caused, resulting in sewage entering the wards, onto the floors and through the sinks.

He said: “The blockages only became apparent when the system was put to the test by routine activities.”

“The cause of these blockades turned out to be that contract employees of the multiplex complex had deliberately carried out sabotage and had subsequently terminated their contracts.”

“We found bags full of rags that had been pushed into the piles along with long screw rods, as well as plastic bottles, tools and other obstructions.”

He said this was one of several problems the property team faced as they settled into the new building. Other issues included the blinds, which patients could not operate properly and needed replacing. The shower wet rooms did not drain properly.

He added: “Given the large number of contractual deficiencies and systemic issues, I was concerned about the workload of such a small team.”

Mr Powrie also expressed concern about the long period of nine months between the filling of the hospital's water system and the handover of the campus from contractors to the health authority.

He continued: “I was concerned about the risk of water stagnation, especially in a system of this size and complexity.”

“I remember suggesting chemical treatment, but was told that chemical treatment was not required under the guidelines for new, well-designed systems.”

On hot days, a problem arose with the ventilation system. High humidity caused condensation in the system and water droplets fell from the ceiling to the floor of the wards. This meant that patients had to be moved to Ward 2A, the children's cancer ward, to avoid the risk of infection until the system could be repaired.

The inquiry was also told that following an outbreak of illness among young children in Northern Ireland in which some babies died, concerns were raised about flow regulators in taps and that guidelines recommended that they be removed.

The site had around 2,500 Horne faucets, which deliver water at a safe temperature to reduce the risk of scalding.

Lord Brodie said: “In 2015, the experience at Belfast Hospital raised the question of whether Horne taps should be used.”

Deliberately caused blockages in the hospital system caused sewage to enter the wards, onto the floors and through the sinks

“The problem was that this particular faucet design was associated with a cluster of infections.

“This was recognised in Glasgow in 2015.”

“Between 2015 and 2018, the problem was simply not addressed.”

Families of those whose deaths were attributed to possible construction and maintenance problems at the QEUH, which began admitting patients in April 2015, are hoping for answers from the investigation.

Between 2015 and 2018, infections related to sinks, drains and showers occurred in pediatric cancer wards.

Among the fatalities is 10-year-old leukemia patient Milly Main, who died in 2017 from toxic shock when a line used to administer intravenous medication became contaminated with bacteria normally found in water, plants or soil.

A Multiplex spokesman said yesterday: “Mr Powrie's evidence in the public hearing will be responded to in due course.”

“It would not be appropriate for Multiplex to comment further at this time.” The investigation is ongoing.