Burst pipe at Ayr Hospital

Health chiefs have praised a huge emergency effort for averting a major crisis at Ayr Hospital.

The building’s basement and lift shafts flooded following failure of the main boiler on Thursday.

A burst pipe caused a“large water ingress”and loss of heating within the hospital.

Lifts were out of access for six hours while teams brought in temporary heaters.

Outpatient and surgical procedures were also hit.

It was some nine hours before all lift shafts were restored to working order.

Patients, though, were not diverted from the site during the incident, leading to criticism from some staff that“public image was put before safety”.

One nurse told The Post :“There was gallons of hot water in the basement and the elevators were out of operation.

“But the hospital continued to receive patients and decided against a divert.

“That despite being unable to move patients up to wards.

“Once again it was public image before safety of patients and staff.”

But NHS bosses hit back at those claims from within their own ranks, and insisted all had been done to manage the situation safely and responsibly.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran Chief Executive, John Burns, said patient safety was ensured“at all times”.

He added:“The incident did have an impact on some patient activity in outpatients and surgery and I apologise to those who were affected.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service also responded to support University Hospital Ayr to maintain patient services.

“This response showed the importance of partnership working and on Thursday I thanked the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Ambulance Service for their support in managing this incident and supporting the working of the hospital during the incidnt.

“The response of teams across University Hospital Ayr and the estates team showed the professionalism of our teams when faced with such a challenge and I also wrote to the Hospital Director thanking everyone who was involved in the response.

“It is disappointing that some have expressed that“public image was put before safety of patients and staff”.

“Throughout the incident the Incident Management Team took advice from clinical leaders and assessed all risks to inform decisions throughout the incident, public image was not part of that consideration.”