The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
NHS facilities in a ‘desperate state’ because of lack of maintenance
A total of 66 Fife and Tayside sites require urgent repairs, while across Scotland the bill is expected to be £900m
The “desperate state” of NHS facilities across Courier Country has been laid bare by maintenance lists released by health boards.
Urgent repairs are required at 31 sites at NHS Tayside and 35 at the Fife health board, 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.
Action required in Fife includes preventative work to areas where a legionella risk is feared and replacing two “obsolete” lifts at Queen Margaret Hospital at a cost of £155,000 each.
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) .
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”.
“Across Tayside and Fife there are NHS buildings in desperate need of repairs and renovations,” said the Tory MSP.
“Budget issues at NHS Tayside are well documented, but scrimping on maintenance is a quick fix that will create problems for the future.
“PRI is a hugely important hospital and repairs to its internal plumbing, electrics and heating must be a priority for health board chiefs.
“Similarly it is surely a disaster waiting to happen for Queen Margaret Hospital in Fife to be using obsolete lifts.”
Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said the research shows that right across the country there are NHS buildings in a “desperate state”.
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”.
“The boiler system at Stratheden Hospital meets all statutory requirements and there is no impact to patients or staff. “
He continued: “NHS Fife continues to look at ways of improving the condition of its estate and enhancing energy and environmental performance.”
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.