Asbestos risk at Raigmore Hospital is assessed by NHS Highland as long-term solutions considered

NHS Highland has moved to limit the risk asbestos poses at the north’s biggest hospital after the board’s own risk assurance report rated the dangers of substance at Raigmore.

Discussing the issue at this week’s board meeting, agreement was reached to establish an inspection and monitoring system of asbestos – a group of minerals that can cause cancer and other diseases.

A risk analysis revealed asbestos is a problem in a "number of areas... primarily in Raigmore" but it also appears to be a problem at other major facilities in Inverness including the RNI and New Craigs Psychiatric Hospital.

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”.

One of the main obstacles to its complete removal is that it entails the closure of quite large areas of the hospital to complete and even then there are mixed results.

This at a time when NHS Highland are under more pressure than ever due to the ongoing pandemic.

But the board believes that it can reduce the risk after a recently trialled measure where the ceiling tiles were removed and encapsulated the asbestos with a fire retardant membrane.

The report stated: “This worked better than expected and is a model to minimise the risk elsewhere. 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.”

Previously asbestos was widely used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing and sprayed on ceilings and walls.

The 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.”

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.

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.

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