Alarm goes up about asbestos in strath's hospitals and at Raigmore

Bosses at NHS Highland will be warned today that asbestos could force parts of the region's biggest hospital to close for months – and concerns have been aired over use of the material at Grantown and Kingussie hospitals.

Risk analysis reveals asbestos is a problem in a "number of areas... primarily in Raigmore".

But the Ian Charles Hospital at Grantown and St Vincent's Hospital at Kingussie have been included on a list of buildings where asbestos has been utilised for years.

Asbestos is a term for a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres. Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other diseases.

A report to the health authority's board stated: “There is a risk within a number of our buildings from asbestos used in the original construction of the building. This was used to provide fire-proofing on steel construction.

“Removal of this asbestos is nigh on impossible, it would require closure of significant areas of our service, for example, the entire diagnostic service in Raigmore.

“If the asbestos was to significantly deteriorate, we may be forced to close areas until this could be dealt with. This would be for extended periods of time, months not weeks.”

The board agreed to a system of monitoring and inspection to tackle the issue.

A fire-retardant material has been used to cover asbestos in part of the building in a recent test.

"This worked better than expected and is a model to minimise risk elsewhere," the report stated. "However, this will take months to implement as it requires access to an empty area for at least three consecutive days.

"This will minimise the risk to as low a level as can be achieved without complete removal.

"Experience of complete removal in an operational building is very mixed as there will always be areas that are impossible to access and therefore the result is there will always be a residual risk."

Before its dangers were known, asbestos was often used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing and sprayed on ceilings and walls.

It is now banned in the UK.

NHS Highland is also looking to tackle a number of other problems including the fire alarm system which is between 20 and 30 years old. Work such as refurbishing wards and installing sprinklers would need to take place, and has started in some areas.

A NHSH spokeswoman said: "NHS Highland has undertaken asbestos removal and encapsulation in various parts of the site. The Asbestos situation in Raigmore is similar to many buildings of its age. Asbestos is regularly checked and surveyed to ensure it remains safe.

"We have a programme for encapsulation in the radiology area of the hospital and that work is ongoing and will take some time to complete. This will minimise that risk for the remainder of the life of that building.

"As the hospital is redeveloped Asbestos will be removed, this will be part of the continued investment plan for the Hospital."

More details on the Badenoch and Strathspey hospitals will be published once they are ascertained.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.