Health board picked for net zero pilot

NHS SHETLAND is one of three health boards across Scotland which have been picked for a pilot scheme looking at how carbon emissions will be reduced over the coming decades.

A meeting of the health board heard on Tuesday that consultants will work with NHS Shetland to explore the move to ‘net zero’ by 2045.

Head of estates Lawson Bisset said it was “good news for us that we are the first to take part in it”.

The scheme will see the health develop a net zero route map, which will provide an action plan for NHS Shetland to achieve the Scottish Government net zero targets.

Bisset said the process should be completed by the end of the financial year.

Board chairman Gary Robinson said it was a “really positive” development.

Health board members, meanwhile, agreed to the sale of the former dental premises at 90 St Olaf Street in Lerwick.

The premises were last used for service provision in September last year.

A report presented by Bisset said the fabric of the building is in a poor state.

“In order to achieve the minimal standards expected extensive works are required which include, heating, roofing, internal refurbishment and re-equipping,” it added.

“It is concluded that the option of retaining 90 St Olaf Street for NHS Shetland dental service provision, is prohibitively expensive.”

Bisset also said that a strategic assessment on the Gilbert Bain Hospital – which could look at the need for a new hospital – is about to enter its first stage.