Hospital’s heat led to fever fears
BY VIVIENNE AITKEN PATIENTS were left feeling so hot because of a lack of air conditioning in a ward that medics thought they had infections as their temperatures had soared.
Ayr Hospital had shelled out for hi-tech Dyson fans but their use has been banned over infection fears.
The husband of one patient said seven in the ward seemed to have developed fevers.
He said: “The heat was appalling. There was no air conditioning at all.
“My wife was going to be stopped from getting home because her temperature was 38.5C.
“Six others in her ward had temperatures of 38.5C. It was all down to the heat.
“It was horrendous. She couldn’t wait to get out.”
Ayrshire and Arran Health Board nurse director Professor Hazel Borland said staff were doing all they could to keep patients cool in the “exceptional” hot spell.
She added: “This has included turning off unnecessary lights, closing blinds and providing patients with plenty of fluids. Where available, air conditioning units are on.
“NHS Ayrshire and Arran withdrew all Dyson bladeless fans following national guidance issued by Health Protection Scotland. Patient safety is our priority.” 0.5 miles (approx) Divers route 2.5 miles (approx) ■■June 23: 12 players and coach entered the cave after football training but were cut off by heavy rain. ■■June 24: A search party finds footprints inside cave. ■■June 27: British divers and US military join the search but are hampered by heavy floodwaters. ■■July 2: All 13 found alive but weak and hungry. ■■What’s next: Rescuers must teach the boys to dive or bring in supplies and wait for flood waters to recede. DIVERS