Community Hospital to close after engineers brought after discovering dangerous concrete flagged problem with roof

NHS Borders has announced that it closes the Knoll Community Hospital and the nearby medical practice in Duns.

It comes after a study by structural engineers brought after the discovery of RAAC – a dangerous concrete that is prone to collapse – marked “a problem with the roof structure” which requires urgent action.

Staff and patients are moved to alternative sites to allow remedy work to be performed.

The Health Council says it is just a temporary measure.

But it is unknown when the work starts or how long it will take.

Chief Officer Chris Myers said: “We recognize that this information will come as a shock to staff, patients and anyone who uses the services provided from Knoll Hospital and Health Center, including patients from both GP practice.

“We work in PACE to identify alternative locations from which services will be provided while the remedial works are performed.

“As soon as we are able to confirm these details, they will be communicated directly to people affected and made available in Public Domain on the NHS Borders website.”

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No clinics, agreements or interior care are delivered from the premises while the works are carried out.

The Health Board says “The decant of the site, including Knoll Community Hospital, Health Center, Duns Medical Group and Merse Medical Practice, will be completed as soon as we can safely”, which adds that the safety of staff and patients is most important.

But a spokesman reassured the residents: “NHS Borders is obliged to complete these works and is clear at this time that the relevant work will be ordered to return Knoll Community Hospital and Health Center to a fully functioning facility.”

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By 2023, it was widely reported that the presence of RAAC was probably in properties across NHS Scotland Estate.

The original studies found that four health facilities in the borders were affected – Knoll Hospital, Knoll Health Center, Jedburgh Health Center and Kelso Hospital.

The expert studies advised that there was no evidence of the stage of concrete that was in poor condition, resulting in an immediate risk and therefore there was no critical or immediate action required in any of the places.

Last year, however, NHS limits ordered in-depth studies to be performed in the places where the presence of RAAC had been identified.

And Monday this week, it was notified of a problem with the roof structure at Knoll, which requires remedy actions “as soon as possible”.

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While a similar study of the Community Hospital in Kelso is still completing, NHS Borders says there is no indication of any immediate risk in this place; While the phase two study of the Jedburgh Health Center has not yet begun.

In a comment on the questions at Duns, Mr Myers said: “There is inevitably a period of disturbance, which of course we will work to minimize as far as possible.

“I ask for patience while working through the details; and to enable our staff and partners to focus on the tasks in hand, I respectfully ask that people are not drawn into unfounded speculation.

“This is a temporary closure to Knollen and we are obliged to carry out these works. We are clear at this time that the relevant work will be ordered to return Knoll Community Hospital and Health Center to a fully functioning facility.

“Although it is tempting, do not contact Knoll Hospital or GP practice staff to ask for temporary events. If you are directly affected by upcoming agreements, etc., you will be contacted directly over time. ”

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