A senior medical scientist has stated he raised concerns about Scotland's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) for 15 years, but he is unsatisfied that these issues have been properly addressed.
Dr. Michael Bradnam, a Cambridge-educated scientist, submitted evidence to the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry detailing numerous issues he flagged to health bosses regarding the £1 billion QEUH in Glasgow. His concerns include claims that staff were pressured to install £10 million worth of scanning equipment before the building was complete, posing risks of damage and deterioration.
Dr. Bradnam stated that since the hospital opened in 2015, he has submitted three separate assessments to health bosses flagging concerns. He reported receiving no formal response or assurances that the issues were addressed. His testimony comes as vital repairs to the QEUH are expected to cost taxpayers £170 million.
The public inquiry was established in 2019 following patient deaths and high infection rates at the superhospital, prompting concerns about patient safety. Previous testimony suggested political pressure may have been applied to ensure the hospital opened on time in 2015, a claim denied by First Minister John Swinney.
Dr. Bradnam, an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow and long-time employee of the local health board since 1984, officially raised three major issues through formal 'SBARs' (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation) assessments. These concerned ventilation and temperature control (2020), patient electrical safety (2024), and environmental humidity control (2025). He stated he received no formal response to these SBARs, nor confirmation of implementation or resolution of assurance gaps. He is also unsure if these concerns were escalated within the Health Board's governance processes or recorded on risk registers.
His concerns about the premature installation of a £10 million Siemens MRI scanner, based on email exchanges from 2014, highlighted that the Diagnostics Directorate was allegedly pressured to install high-value imaging equipment before construction was finished. He warned of technical and operational risks, including potential damage from ongoing construction and deterioration of unused equipment, as well as the risk of an MRI scanner 'quench' – a sudden loss of superconductivity that could release boiling liquid helium.
Dr. Bradnam cited personal and professional reasons, including ill health and family bereavement, for not coming forward earlier. He felt able to present his testimony to the Inquiry earlier this year. He stated he raised concerns through appropriate management and governance channels within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), giving the organization opportunities to address them. After concerns remained unresolved, he sought legal advice and was advised in April 2026 to contact the Inquiry directly as an individual witness.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde stated it was recently made aware of Dr. Bradnam's evidence and requires time to review it. The health board confirmed that Dr. Bradnam contacted them a few months prior regarding his concerns and that a working group, which Dr. Bradnam will join, was quickly established to review and understand his issues. The group's work is ongoing, with recommendations expected in due course.
NHSGGC, responsible for the QEUH, has been named as a suspect in a corporate homicide investigation into the deaths of four patients, including Milly Main and Gail Armstrong.