Hundreds of sewage leaks across NHS boards revealed in new study
Over half of the 196 sewage-related accidents recorded since 2019 took place at the University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, new data shows.
The ageing hospital was impacted by 105 sewage leaks over that time, mainly due to “ageing pipework” and an often-faulty drainage system.
Five leaks were also reported at University Hospital Wishaw.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats spoke to all 14 health boards in Scotland, asking them to detail leaks “which have resulted in sewage coming into the hospital”, including through ceilings and walls.
They were NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Lothian.
The data on North Lanarkshire showed that they suffered the highest number of sewage leaks, giving a total of 137.
Alongside this, NHS Grampian recorded 26 incidents, with nine taking place in Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin and five at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
A further 16 incidents were recorded by NHS Fife, spread between Victoria hospital in Kirkcaldy and Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.
Scottish Lib Dem spokesman Willie Rennie said: “This will be worrying news for patients across Scotland but particularly those who rely on the Monklands hospital.
“I hope that health boards will be able to offer assurances that these issues have been addressed and will not happen again.”
The Scottish Government said that as part of its £1bn infrastructure investment plan NHS boards would have their maintenance budgets doubled from £142m to £284m by 2025-26.
In hopes of bettering the situation, a £400m modern replacement is due to be built at nearby Wester Moffat, however last year the completion date for the project was delayed from 2028 to 2031.
