CLADDING similar to that found on the fire-hit Grenfell Tower in London where 80 died and found to have been installed throughout Scotland's largest hospital are now to be removed.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said the decision to act on Glasgow's super hospital was made after foresnic tests was a precautionary measure.
A type of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) was found on parts of the 14-storey Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow during checks following the Grenfell fire in London in June.
The panels are used in three external sections of the building.
Health Secretary Shona Robison confirmed that Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) found at the QEUH was similar in type "but not the same as Grenfell".
She said: "Patient safety is paramount and that is why further forensic checks are currently taking place across the whole NHS estate in Scotland.
"Following the identification of a type of ACM on the QEUH of a similar type to, but not the same as Grenfell, I am reassured that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have decided that the material is should be removed as a precautionary measure."
It is not yet known how long it will take to remove panels which cover large sections of the external parts of the hospital.
The areas where cladding needs to be removed
An NHSGGC spokesman said: "Health Facilities Scotland and their National Fire Advisor have given us renewed assurances that the hospital is an extremely safe building.
"The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have also provided further reassurance that as part of its regular risk based audit programme, it had carried out fire safety audits within the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which were found to be satisfactory.
"However, as a purely precautionary measure, and to make sure the public, our patients and our staff have full confidence in the safety of the hospital we have taken the decision to remove the panels from the areas of the hospital where these panels are.
"The panels that will be removed are present in three external sections of the building and we are currently working with contractors and technical advisers to assess how this work can proceed at the earliest possible opportunity.
"Our hospital management teams are working on plans to minimise the impact on patient care."
NHSGCC previously stressed that the Queen Elizabeth hospital has fire door systems and - unlike Grenfell tower - a sprinkler system.
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