Ventilation issues at new hospital buildings raised with NHS Grampian in 2020, report states

NHS Grampian was made aware of ventilation issues which contributed to further delays at two new hospital buildings three years ago, according to reports.

The Baird Family Hospital – which would provide maternity and breast screening services – and the cancer-treating Anchor Centre were due to be open in 2020, but have faced delays and budget overspends of almost £100m.

Last month, delays attributed in part to the ventilation system at the new buildings – which will be built on the grounds of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary – were announced.

But a review by NHS Scotland, released to the BBC under freedom of information legislation, “identified multiple concerns in relation to the development of the ventilation strategy that, from the evidence presented, do not appear to have been addressed”.

The health board said its infection prevention and control (IPC) teams had been tied up by the pandemic and unable to support the building of the facilities, adding that some of the issues created were due to changes in national guidance stemming from ventilation issues at hospitals in Edinburgh and Glasgow – which are being probed by a public inquiry.

A spokesman for the health board told the broadcaster it “welcomed robust scrutiny”, adding: “Many of the points raised are due to changes in guidance and process, that came following issues with the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh.

“In the majority of cases, our teams were already aware of and actively working to address the issues and opportunities raised.

“Our IPC team is now embedded within the project board delivering these complex clinical buildings, so that when the Anchor Centre and Baird Family Hospital open their doors, they will provide the best possible levels of care for patients.”

The Anchor Centre is reportedly due to open in October, with the Baird Family Hospital to open in September of next year.