A large section of Fife’s main acute hospital needs an urgent £29 million upgrade just to bring it up to standard.
NHS Fife said the condition of the ageing tower block at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy is giving cause for concern and must be addressed as part of a redesign of clinical services.
The 50-year-old block, which houses orthopaedics and medical wards, makes up the largest proportion of a massive £72.3m investment needed at unsatisfactory health service buildings across the region.
This includes £3m of work at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, £3m at Whyteman’s Brae Hospital in Kirkcaldy, and £1.5m at Cameron Hospital in Windygates where the heating system is said to be on the point of collapse.
In all, more than a third of property is in an unsatisfactory or unacceptable condition, although NHS Fife has insisted all buildings are safe and the needs of patients are paramount.
Andy Fairgrieve, director of estates, facilities and capital services, said the board was unlikely to receive any specific funding from government to help with the work but that there was a process to follow if additional money was required.
Action plans have been put in place following a full risk assessment of all buildings, with patient and staff safety made a priority.
As health and social care moves towards more community-based treatment, services are being redesigned and some older hospital property is likely to be disposed of.
While two brand new health centres are in the pipeline for Lochgelly and Kincardine, a report written by Mr Fairgrieve has revealed long term plans to sell off the entire Whyteman’s Brae site and 75% of Stratheden Hospital near Cupar.
Work is also being done to vacate parts of Cameron Hospital which are within a potential blast zone created by the nearby Diageo plant.
Mid Scotland and Fife Labour MSP Alex Rowley claimed NHS Fife’s management of its property left a lot to be desired.
“My concern would be they are starting to look at solutions to the property issue without taking into account the needs of people,” he said.
He expressed concern for mental health patients if the psychiatric wards were closed at Whyteman’s Brae and called for more detail on the work needed elsewhere.
“There is a serious problem and the board needs to be more honest,” he said.
“The people of Fife would be right to be concerned.”
Jann Gardner, NHS Fife’s chief operating officer and deputy chief executive, said: “Our new programme of work within acute services will optimise clinical care and make the best use of our facilities – the clinical needs, safety and experience of our patients is at the heart of what we do.
“The safety and fabric of our buildings are maintained at a safe level at all times.”
