Dr. Michael Bradnam informed an inquiry that persistent patient safety concerns at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) were disregarded for at least 15 years. He stated that recurring issues were ignored, despite his repeated attempts to bring them to the attention of hospital management and the health board.
In a meeting with the health board's chief executive, Prof. Jann Gardner, earlier this year, Bradnam proposed that elevated humidity levels in the supply air might be contributing to mold growth within the ventilation system. Gardner subsequently stated that a review of imaging facilities had been initiated.
Bradnam's concerns extended to the hospital's infrastructure and equipment. In a 2014 email to management, he expressed apprehension that the diagnostic team was being pressured to install expensive imaging equipment before the building was fully complete. He warned that this could lead to the deterioration and damage of an MRI scanner, valued at approximately £10 million.
Both First Minister John Swinney and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon have denied that political pressure influenced the hospital's premature opening. Bradnam reported that he had not received a formal response to his complaints, nor confirmation that his recommendations were implemented or that identified assurance gaps were addressed. He was also uncertain if his concerns were escalated to higher management levels within the health board.
By 2026, Bradnam had been raising concerns for over 15 years. He told the inquiry that while some issues had been partially resolved, he had not seen evidence of a documented, system-wide analysis of gaps or a formal process to confirm that identified assurance gaps, particularly those related to legacy issues, had been resolved and closed across the imaging facilities.
The inquiry concluded its submissions process in January 2026. Bradnam explained that he was only recently able to contact the probe due to health issues and a family bereavement.