John Swinney was aware that two individuals were receiving treatment for fungal infections in a cancer ward plagued by mold and water issues, yet he assured the public of the safety of Scotland’s £1 billion superhospital.

Both Mr. Swinney and Health Secretary Neil Gray chose not to disclose these infections, along with two additional suspected cases, amidst a political uproar concerning the conditions in Ward 4B at the troubled Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).

Critics have accused Mr. Swinney and Mr. Gray of a shocking “cover-up,” criticizing the SNP ministers for perpetuating “secrecy” and “lies.”

Documents recently accessed by the Scottish Mail on Sunday indicate that the First Minister and Mr. Gray were informed about two verified instances of hospital-acquired fungal infections in Ward 4B at QEUH on February 26.

During this period, officials from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) were shutting down rooms in the ward, which serves bone marrow transplant patients, due to water leakage and mold concerns.

On March 4, less than a week after the initial notification, while facing inquiries about the room closures, neither Mr. Swinney nor Mr. Gray mentioned the infections, instead asserting the hospital’s safety.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said our revelations were ‘staggering’ and said: ‘It is absolutely outrageous that SNP ministers have continued to lie to journalists and MSPs about this.’

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information show reveal two patients were confirmed as having hospital-acquired fungus infections while being treated in ward 4B, and two others had ‘possible’ infections.

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) has been at the centre of an inquiry

The two confirmed cases were infections from fungi Exophiala dermatitidis and Mucor velutunosus.

One email, sent from the Scottish Government to NHSGGC chiefs on February 26 refers to a healthcare infection alert (HIIAT) and states: ‘The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary are urgently requesting some further information on the Amber HIIAT reported to us today’.

The email confirms the incident was related to ‘water ingress and cases of fungal infection in ward 4B in the QEUH’ and states: ‘Since February 1, 2026, there have been 2 microbiologically confirmed cases of fungal infection and two possible cases.’

A briefing sent to Mr Gray on March 2 gives details of the infections and states that swabs taken in one room, which had black marks on the ceiling, had been ‘negative’ but they would continue to swab and take air samples.

During First Minister’s questions on March 5, Mr Swinney was asked about ward 4B. He told parliamentarians: ‘It is important that I put that on the record that, fundamentally, the clinical consensus is that the wards in question are safe.’

Mr Gray confirmed to parliament on March 12 that mould had been grown from swabs taken on the ward but again did not mention patients’ infections.

He told MSPs: ‘Regarding media interest in potential mould and water ingress, Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection Scotland notified the Scottish Government of an incident of water ingress in ward 4B in the Queen Elizabeth university hospital on 26 February 2026. Ministers were made aware of that late in the afternoon on the same day.’

NHS bosses also failed to mention patient infections when quizzed by journalists. On March 7 our reporter asked the health board why they had issued a healthcare infection alert – known as a HIIAT – and whether any patients were infected. We received no response.

First Minister John Swinney has been accused of covering up patient infections at the QEUH

Maureen Dynes’s husband Tony, 63, had lymphoma and was being treated on ward 4B. He died in 2021 after contracting two infections.

She said: ‘Since Tony’s death, the government and health board has told us time and again that the hospital is safe. Now we learn that patients are still getting these unusual fungal infections, in the same ward Tony was in, at the same time they are investigating problems with water and mould. History is repeating itself.

‘On top of this, we are having to learn through the media about these issues. Not once was there mention of patients being infected during all of this when the NHS and Scottish Government were questioned about it. So much for culture change and transparency.

‘I plead with the government and NHSGGC to take action now before more families suffer like mine has. This has to stop.’

Ms Baillie said: ‘After years of cover-up from SNP ministers about the QEUH, and the damage that has brought with it, anyone would think this government would have learned its lessons.

‘However, it appears that the SNP are continuing to take the same approach as they have for years – covering up serious issues and refusing to disclose crucial information to the public, even when asked directly about safety concerns.

‘Both NHSGGC and John Swinney insisted that the hospital was safe for patients, yet it appears that this was simply not the case. It is absolutely outrageous that SNP ministers have continued to lie to journalists and MSPs about this.

‘We urgently need straight answers from John Swinney and Neil Gray. We cannot afford more spin and deceit from this rotten SNP government.’

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: ‘This is damning evidence of yet more secrecy and cover-up from SNP ministers.

Maureen Dynes and her husband Tony, who died at the QEUH in 2021

‘They were fully aware more patients at this hospital had acquired infections and were clearly at risk but the public and Parliament were shamefully kept in the dark.

‘Whistleblowers are still telling us that this hospital is still unsafe for patients. John Swinney and Neil Gray cannot continue to hide behind an independent inquiry.

‘They must tell Scots the truth about what has gone badly wrong at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.’

NHSGGC did not explain why it had ignored our questions about patient infections but a spokeswoman claimed a statement on the board’s website ‘highlighted an Incident Management Team was established following the identification of an infection in a very small number of patients.’

She said NHSGGC ‘do not provide information on individual patients or small groups of patients when numbers are below five…to ensure patient information is kept confidential.

‘In the public statement we have explained key facts about the safety of Ward 4B and do not accept any suggestion there has been an attempt to minimise its seriousness.’

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: ‘As Ministers have previously stated, they are deeply sorry for the issues patients have experienced at the QEUH and all that families have gone through.

‘The Scottish Government is in close contact with NHS GGC in relation to Ward 4B and receives regular updates to maintain an accurate picture of any ongoing developments.’