Edinburgh NHS hospital locked down as deadly bacteria discovered at site

An Edinburgh hospital has been locked down after deadly bacteria was discovered.

NHS Lothian bosses shut the doors of the Royal Edinburgh after the discovery of Legionella bacteria. Bosses confirmed the bacteria was detected in the Kennedy Tower at the Royal Edinburgh.

Staff at the facility have been relocated as officials monitor the situation. Residents were assured that Kennedy Tower is not accessible to patients and "has not been fully occupied for some time." EdinburghLivereports the bacteria was discovered in the building's water system during "routine building management and water quality monitoring."

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“As part of our routine building management and water quality monitoring, we have detected the presence of legionella bacteria in the water system at Kennedy Tower," Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Lothian, said.

“Kennedy Tower is not accessible to patients and has not been fully occupied for some time. As a precautionary measure, the building is now closed and the small number of staff who were using the facility have been relocated, and the situation is being closely monitored.”

It comes after cases of Legionnaires' disease more than tripled in Scotland over the past three years, according to recent data from Public Health Scotland. Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection contracted by inhaling droplets from things like air conditioning or hot tubs.

It is an uncommon condition but it can be very serious, the NHS says. Cases of the bacteria declined to just 16 in 2021, but they increased to 44 in 2022, 53 in 2023 and 57 in 2024.

Edinburgh saw a large outbreak of the disease in 2012 when four people died and 45 were admitted to hospital. Nearly 100 people were infected and more than 1,000 people reported potential symptoms. The source of the outbreak, which mostly impacted Edinburgh's south west, was not identified.

No criminal proceedings were brought and no Fatal Accident Inquiry was needed. Legionnaires' disease is typically caught in hotels, hospitals or offices where bacteria get into the water supply.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, high temperature and flu-like symptoms. People who suspect they have Legionnaires' disease are asked to seen an urgent GP appointment.