Fife’s largest hospital has been forced to close one of its wards down due to the discovery of Legionella.
The potentially deadly bacteria was identified in the water system of Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital on Thursday.
NHS Fife staff immediately closed Ward 10 of the hospital after the discovery was made.
The ward was used for elected orthopaedics, but that department moved out earlier this year into the new National Treatment Centre.
NHS Fife confirmed that traces of the bacteria had been found but no one had been affected.
A NHS Fife spokesperson said: “During routine monitoring of our water system, traces of legionella bacteria were recently detected in a small number of outlets in Phase 2 of the Victoria Hospital.
“As a precaution, Ward 10 was temporarily closed to enable remedial action, including chemical flushing of the affected part of the water system, to be carried out.
“Following these actions, the ward will reopen shortly with patient and staff safety remaining our priority, as it has throughout.”
The closure of the ward comes just weeks after another ward at Victoria Hospital was deemed to be in “very poor condition” by health inspectors.
In October, Healthcare Improvement Scotland inspectors raised “serious concerns” about the condition of a hospital during an unannounced visit in the summer.
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