Plans to demolish buildings at Edinburgh Western General Hospital approved

A business case to demolish several buildings at the Western General Hospital has been approved by NHS Lothian’s board.

In a report, staff of the health board detailed that many buildings at the western end of the hospital site had become derelict or were no longer fit for use.

It detailed that demolishing part of the estate was necessary on the grounds of security, health and safety concerns and fire risk.

At Wednesday’s board meeting, members voted to pursue the less expensive of two demolition options that had been proposed, with a cost estimate of £23.2m.

On security, the report stated there had been instances of ‘trespassing, vandalism and theft’ in a number of the buildings concerned, with 46 incidents recorded since January 2024.

In particular, it detailed how ‘urban explorers’ accessed one building on August 31 of last year and filmed inside, which was followed by seven other attempts to access the building.

Meanwhile, the health and safety concerns related to the ‘general standard’ of vacant accommodation on the site.

This included ‘numerous examples of violations of building codes, fire codes, and safety regulations’, as well as other risks.

The report stated that the risks presented in the vacant buildings were ‘largely latent’, and were managed through estates controls and inspections.

Further, it stated that deterioration of the water systems in the buildings could lead to a legionella risk, and that a lack of overall maintenance had led to a series of issues.

These included ‘significant’ water ingress through roofs and windows and other ‘building fabric defects’, which contributed to ceilings collapsing and asbestos becoming exposed.

Additionally, mechanical and electrical fittings becoming ‘compromised’ had caused fire and electrocution hazards to be created.

Pests entering the abandoned buildings was also listed as a concern, with worries any infestation could spread to parts of the hospital still in use.

In terms of fire risk, the report stated that a fire starting in one of the derelict buildings could have ‘catastrophic’ risks for operating parts of the hospital due to their proximity.

Additionally, it stated that the fire alarm system in the derelict buildings is only partially connected to the wider system for the hospital, meaning some fires could go undetected.

Funding for the demolition works would come from a mix of Scottish Government support and funding from NHS Lothian itself.

The demolition options differed in their scope; while both would see some buildings currently in use demolished, the second of the two would see a larger number of currently-used buildings knocked down.

The report backed the more expansive option, which would have seen a regional infectious diseases unit and some other services decanted.

But at Wednesday’s board meeting, staff presenting the report instead backed the more limited option.

Board accountant Jonathan Blazeby asked the staff why the more limited was now preferred, and if NHS Lothian was entering into a ‘false economy’ if it pursued that option.

One of the staff members replied that all of the demolition works in both options would eventually be required, and that due to how works had been phased there would be no value lost in carrying out the more limited option.

Additionally, they said it would give the project better value, as the limited option would allow demolition works to start earlier.

One building on the site, once used for laundry, is already undergoing demolition works, and was excluded from the business case.