Car park ops hospital is hit by collapse of contractors
A HOSPITAL where patients are having to undergo surgery in the car park has suffered a further blow after a company upgrading its theatres collapsed.
Bosses at NHS Lanarkshire say they are examining the ‘impact’ after the firm carrying out mechanical works went into administration.
The revelation is the latest to strike Scotland’s crisis-hit hospital estate.
A public inquiry is ongoing into problems with the construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh.
The theatre upgrade at University Hospital Hairmyres in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire began last month.
It follows major building works, which began in November 2019 and meant patients had to be treated in a temporary operating theatre in its car park.
Last week the upgrade was thrown into disarray after Wishaw-based Weir & McQuiston (Scotland) Limited (WMQ), which was contracted to provide mechanical and electrical services, went into administration.
The Lanarkshire firm was one of Scotland’s oldest familyowned businesses. It ceased trading with the loss of almost 100 jobs.
It had been hired by the hospital’s facilities management contractor, ISS, to upgrade an operating theatre as part of the long-standing renovation plan.
Scottish Labour MSP for Central Scotland Mark Griffin said: ‘As well as the devastating loss of jobs, this casts fresh doubt about the future of the Hairmyres theatre upgrade.
‘Patients have been left in limbo already, being stuck with second-rate services in a portable cabin. The health board must urgently set out a plan to reassure us all this essential work won’t be pushed back.’
Colin Lauder, NHS Lanarkshire director of planning, property and performance, said: ‘We learned on Thursday that WMQ were no longer trading. We are currently working with ISS (the PFI contractor) to understand what impact this might have on this particular project.’
A staff member at Hairmyres, who has asked to remain anonymous, said the latest problem follows years of disruption.
He said: ‘The project has already gone on for too long. With Covid we are now having to deal with a backlog of work as well as the ongoing pressures of the NHS.’
The administrators said WMQ suffered ‘unsustainable cash flow problems’ stemming from ‘wafer thin’ margins in construction, the cessation of construction activity and labour and materials shortages.
Blair Milne, joint administrator and head of restructuring with Azets, said: ‘The directors did everything possible to keep the business trading.’
WMQ managing director Gordon McArthur said delays in starting the project ‘piled pressure’ on the firm.
He said: ‘It had taken about nine months for the contract to be signed and works started. That was not Covid-related.
‘It also piled pressure on the firm as the works were supposed to be completed by now.’
‘Delays piled on pressure’