Health Secretary Shona Robison has been quizzed on the state of Scotland’s operating theatres after hundreds of cancellations at Raigmore Hospital.
North MSP Edward Mountain raised the issue at Holyrood after dust contamination and cracks in theatre walls led to 486 operations being postponed at the Inverness hospital in recent weeks.
The Conservative asked the health secretary how many operating theatres in Scotland had wooden doors and plaster walls, before warning that construction requirements in operating theatres “lag woefully behind requirements for other high-risk areas”.
Ms Robison responded: “I take the opportunity to thank all the staff who helped restore the theatres to full capacity as quickly and safely as possible and minimise the disruption to patients.
“I also recognise that staff across NHS Highland—at Caithness, Golspie and Fort William—helped treat some patients who were due to go to Raigmore.
“I have received no indication from NHS Highland that wooden doors or plasterworks contributed to the incident to which Mr Mountain alludes.
“Health Facilities Scotland has also undertaken a review of the work that was undertaken and its view is that wooden doors and plasterworks did not contribute to the incident.
“Additionally, NHS Highland is undertaking a serious adverse event review in accordance with its standard procedure.
“If any lessons come out of either of those reviews, we will share them across NHS Scotland.”
