More pressure on SNP over rundown hospitals
St John’s is one of six in Lothians in‘high risk’category
St John’s Hospital is in need of urgent repairs, according to a new report.
The hospital is among six in the Lothians deemed “high risk” in the data, obtained by the Scottish Conservatives.
The report said the roof and window infrastructure at St John’s Hospital is “nearing the end of its useful life” as a £1billion bill for NHS Scotland was revealed thanks to a repairs backlog at hospitals across the country.
The Scottish Conservatives obtained the full details, broken down by hospital and health board, following freedom of information requests.
The party’s health spokesman, Lothian MSP Miles Briggs, said: “The Scottish Government can’t simply brush these off as disused or administrative facilities.
“They quite clearly include maternity hospitals, mental health facilities and paediatric units.
“This will be of concern to both patients and staff who, at the very least, deserve to work in a safe and comfortable environment.
“There are real question marks hanging over the life expectancy of some of our NHS buildings.
“The SNP is in sole charge of health, yet in almost a decade has let this completely spiral out of control.”
Jim Crombie, deputy chief executive of NHS Lothian, said: “Ensuring patients have access to good facilities is one of our key priorities – not only do we prioritise patient areas when carrying out maintenance work, we have ambitious plans to redevelop and reinvigorate our estate.”
SNP MSP Angela Constance said she had sought reassurances from NHS Lothian regarding the issue.
“I have raised the matter directly with NHS Lothian, seeking their reassurance that not only do patients and staff have access to good and safe facilities at all times, but that there is a robust plan of action in place to sort these repairs as quickly as possible. The Scottish Government has committed £ 1.2billion over the next three years to further improve the quality of Scotland’s NHS buildings and backlog maintenance has already been significantly reduced over the past five years with the majority of the backlog either in buildings in non-clinical areas or not in use.”
But Labour MSP Neil Findlay claimed the issue showed the NHS is struggling to cope. He said: “These reports are more evidence of an NHS under huge financial pressure.
“Major items such as a new roof and windows will be hugely expensive at a time when NHS boards are already struggling to cope.
“The Scottish Government cannot continue to demand more and more so called efficiency savings otherwise known as cuts from boards at a time when staff are under massive pressure and buildings are in need of major refurbishment.”
…more evidence of an NHS under huge financial pressure