Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Health facilities in ‘desperate state’
THE “desperate state” of NHS facilities across Tayside and Fife has been laid bare by maintenance lists released by health boards.
Urgent repairs are required at 31 sites at NHS Tayside and 35 in Fife, according to data released under freedom of information laws.
Across Scotland, the maintenance backlog is estimated to cost the taxpayer £900 million.
The lists supplied by the health boards detail vital repairs that are considered “high” or “significant” risk.
In Tayside, the to-do list relates to issues such as plumbing, electrics, roofing and heating at sites including Ninewells and Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI).
Action required in Fife includes preventative work to areas where a legionella risk is feared and replacing two “obsolete” lifts at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline at a cost of £155,000 each.
Conservative MSP Liz Smith, who represents Mid Scotland and Fife, said it is “high time that the SNP properly funded our cash-strapped health boards and that means building repairs as well as more nurses and doctors”.
She added: “Across Tayside and Fife there are NHS buildings in desperate need of repairs and renovations.
“Budget issues at NHS Tayside are well documented but scrimping on maintenance is a quick fix that will create problems for the future.”
Mark Valentine, Tayside’s property asset manager, said: “NHS Tayside remains committed to addressing high risk areas of maintenance and is currently reviewing the risk ratings for all physical backlog maintenance items to ensure a consistent approach which follows national guidance.
“This review will be completed by March 2018 and will allow us to plan future investment in our buildings,” he added.
Andrew Fairgrieve, from NHS Fife, said the board undertakes an “ongoing programme of maintenance, which is reviewed on a regular basis”.
Health secretary Shona Robison said the NHS is planning on investing more than £1.2 billion in its estate over the next three years.
“Backlog maintenance has reduced by over £110 million between 2011 and 2016, with the majority of the backlog being in either buildings in non-clinical parts of the estate or not being in use,” she said.