Dr Gray’s Hospital sewage leak damage still not confirmed despite ‘hundreds’ of Moray patient medical records being destroyed
Patients are still yet to be told if they’ve been affected by a hospital sewage leak that destroyed “hundreds” of medical records six months ago.
After the incident, which happened at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin, both SNP and Conservative figures have pushed NHS Grampian to be honest about the impact and to tell the Moray patients affected as quickly as possible.
But, half a year on, the health board has confirmed it still does not know how many records were wrecked in the January 15 leak, and has not contacted anybody affected.
Estimating the number of contaminated documents at the time, hospital general manager Alasdair Pattinson said: “we suspect it will be several hundred”.
NHS Grampian is “not aware of any negative clinical impact” to date. A spokesperson said specialists from Harwell Restoration are still reviewing documents to see how many were destroyed.
“Until their work is complete, we are unable to confirm how many records are permanently lost,” they added.
Both then-Moray MP Douglas Ross and Moray MSP Richard Lochhead were among those to put pressure on NHS Grampian after we revealed the incident.
Mr Ross, MSP for the Highlands and Islands (Conservative), said the health board had showed “no urgency” in dealing with the destroyed medical records.
“Six months on from this unacceptable incident, it seems NHS Grampian still don’t know the extent of the problem and how many records have been lost or damaged,” he said.
“At the time I said the health board had to be fully transparent and keep the patients affected up to date, but it seems that has not happened.
“NHS Grampian are showing no urgency with this issue, which is deeply disappointing and concerning.
“I have written to the health board seeking a full response and have asked them to outline the actions taken to date since the sewage leak and the next steps they will urgently take to fully address the impact there has been on patient records.”
And Mr Lochhead (SNP) described the incident as “incredibly serious”, adding that NHS Grampian must give the public a timeline for when patients will be told and how it will keep patients safe in the meantime.
“The fact that medical records were destroyed is incredibly serious and it is vital that patients affected are notified as soon as possible,” he said.
“Given we are six months on, and work to review those files affected remains ongoing, it is important that NHS Grampian set out clear timescales for when this will be completed and when relevant patients can expect to be notified.
“NHS Grampian must also give clear assurances that steps are being taken to ensure no patient will experience any negative clinical impact as a result of this incident.”
After the leak, hospital general manager Mr Pattinson said: “I would also like to remind and make a plea to everyone - visitors, patients, and staff - that the only items which should be flushed down toilets are pee, poo, and toilet paper.
“Items like paper towels, wipes or sanitary towels must never be flushed.
“They put plumbing systems under undue pressure and should be placed in the appropriate available bin."
