5 Jul 2017
Mental health facilities, maternity units and some of Scotland’s largest acute hospitals are among those whose buildings are deemed to be a “significant” or “high” risk.
Research by the Scottish Conservatives has revealed a list of NHS facilities earmarked by health boards as needing urgent repairs.
Last year, it was reported that nearly half of Scotland’s hospital and healthcare buildings which featured in a maintenance backlog list were considered significantly or highly risky.
Now, after a series of Freedom of Information requests, it has been revealed which buildings these warnings apply to.
In the Lothians, both the Royal Victoria and the Astley Ainslie have building issues deemed “high risk”, as well as the current Sick Kids hospital and St John’s Hospital in Livingston
Aberdeen Maternity Hospital has one “high risk” backlog in relation to health and safety, as well as several “significant risk” backlogs.
NHS Borders said problems in relation to theatres and other equipment at the Borders General Hospital were “high risk”.
And in Fife, boilers at Stratheden hospital were also considered a “high risk” problem.
Reasons set out for problems being considered “high” risk included boilers and water systems, electrical issues, legionella, asbestos and fire safety.
It is estimated the total cost of the NHS’s maintenance backlog is around £900 million.
Of those buildings, 44 per cent are considered significant risk, of which nine per cent are high risk.
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said:
“We tend to focus on what goes on in hospitals and less so on the quality of buildings provided.
“But this shows that, right across Scotland, there are NHS buildings in a desperate state.
“And the Scottish Government can’t simply brush these off as disused or administrative facilities.
“They quite clearly include maternity hospitals, mental health facilities and paediatric units.
“This will be of concern to both patients and staff, who at the very least deserve to work in a safe and comfortable environment.
“There are real question marks hanging over the life expectancy of some of our NHS buildings.
“The SNP is in sole charge of health, yet in almost a decade has let this completely spiral out of control.”
For full copies of the FoI responses, visit:
http://www.scottishconservatives.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/NHS-Maintenance.zip
Below is a summary from each health board on which buildings are deemed high and significant risk:
NHS Ayrshire and Arran – Water systems at Crosshouse Hospital are on the high risk maintenance backlog. Significant risks include issues at two mental health facilities and a learning disability centre.
NHS Borders – Borders General Hospital deemed issues in relation to theatres and other pieces of equipment as high risk. Another issue on the significant list included external doors at a facility for dementia patients.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway – The health board said there were issues of high and significant risk at facilities including Castle Douglas hospital, the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and Moffat Hospital.
NHS Fife – Boilers at Stratheden Hospital are on the high risk list, as well as numerous issues of significant risk.
NHS Forth Valley – Issues in mental health services, a dentist and a community hospital.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – The health board claims none of its buildings are at significant or high risk.
NHS Grampian – Fire code and health and safety issues at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital are among those considered high risk, while Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has high risk issues with disabled access and safe water temperatures.
NHS Highland – Didn’t provide a specific list, but said most of its issues centred around ventilation and electrical systems.
NHS Lanarkshire – Health board says it has no issues of high risk maintenance backlogs. Significant issues exist at Monklands Hospital, as well as two administrative buildings.
NHS Lothian – Buildings with high risk issues include Roodlands Hospital, the Royal Victoria, Astley Ainslie hospital, the Royal Edinburgh and the Sick Kids hospital. All of those facilities are in the process of moving or being refurbished. St John’s hospital in Livingston also has issues of high risk in relation to roofs and windows.
NHS Orkney – No current issues.
NHS Shetland – No specific issues outlined.
NHS Tayside – The health board set out a number of high and significant risk issues at facilities like Ninewells hospital and the Perth Royal Infirmary.
NHS Western Isles – Only high risk issue was at a non-clinic site on the isle of Barra.
Scotland’s NHS maintenance backlog currently sits at around £900 million:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14665734.NHS_backlog_maintenance_figure_reaches_almost___1_billion/