NHS BUILDINGS IN SCOTLAND

A report has revealed that maintenance work costing almost £860 million needs to be carried out on NHS buildings in Scotland.

While the backlog of work for the NHS estate has fallen from more than £1 billion in 2011, the figures available for 2013 show ten hospitals in Scotland require £360 million of work to be carried out.

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has the largest backlog, with maintenance work required amounting to £60.27 million.

The latest report, examining the condition of the NHS estate, calls for investment to be prioritised at Aberdeen Royal, Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, Edinburgh’s Western General, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Monklands Hospital, Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, and Glasgow’s Southern General.

The report found that despite ‘substantial capital investment over recent years’, 28 per cent of Scotland’s NHS buildings are more than 50 years old, with a further 26 per cent more than 30 years old.

While 68 per cent of the NHS estate was classed as being ‘functionally suitable’ for its current use, the report said that 26 per cent of buildings needed investment to improve their suitability, while 6 per cent required either major investment or to be replaced to make them fit for purpose.