Hospital for OAPs flushed with success

A HOSPITAL for old people in Edinburgh has won praise for its infection-fighting measures - before it has even opened.

The new Royal Victoria, which is being built at the Western General, has picked up an innovation award for tackling legionella.

Together with construction company Laing O'Rourke, NHS Lothian will introduce an auto-cold water flushing system which will clear any build-ups of the potentially fatal bug in the pipes.

That will radically reduce the chances of potential Legionnaires' disease outbreaks.

Health Facilities Scotland said the plan - the first of its kind north of the Border - represented a "pioneering approach".

There will be more than 400 cold water withdrawal points throughout the water system by the time the 156-bed hospital is complete in 2012.