Two Edinburgh GP practices issued with notices over 'risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria'

Two Edinburgh GP practices have been issued with improvement notices by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) due to the “risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria”.

The government body determined that Conan Doyle Medical Practice and Braefoot Medical Practice failed to devise and implement a plan to reduce the risk of exposure to the disease-causing bacteria from the hot and cold water system.

The bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a form of bacterial pneumonia, which can be contracted from taps and showers that are not used often.

The HSE found that the practices had committed three breaches, including failing to ensure that any person carrying out work at the building had suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training regarding their potential exposure to hazardous substances.

An improvement notice has been issued, and the practices have until March 31 to comply.

Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership has confirmed they are working with NHS Lothian to resolve the issue.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership said: “We are working closely with the leaseholder of the building and colleagues in NHS Lothian to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

“Our priority continues to be the safety of the patients who are registered with the practice, our staff and other healthcare colleagues who work there.”