Raigmore Hospital is hit by asbestos fears as NHS Highland move to deal with the situation despite former bosses being aware of the problem since 2005
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
BOSSES at NHS Highland have been warned that asbestos could force parts of the region's biggest hospital to close for months.
A risk analysis revealed at today's board meeting says asbestos is a problem in a "number of areas... primarily in Raigmore."
Asbestos is a term for a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres. Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and other diseases.
It was highlighted as a problem in Raigmore as far back as 2005 when an estate manager’s report identified it as a “significant hazard”.
And three years ago media investigations identified 25 health facilities in the Highlands where asbestos was present.
As well as Raigmore Hospital these included the RNI and New Craigs Psychiatric Hospital, both in Inverness, as well as county hospitals in Nairn, Invergordon and Wick and Caithness General Hospital.
New Craigs was opened in 2000 – shortly after a UK-wide ban on the use of asbestos came into effect in November 1999.
Previously asbestos was widely used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing and sprayed on ceilings and walls.
A report to the health authority's board, which is due to meet today, 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.”
A system of monitoring and inspection is under way. 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."
A spokeswoman for the health board 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."
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.
