‘Extensive noise’ expected in next phase of Gilbert Bain Hospital works
THE NEXT phase of essential repairs at the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick will begin on Monday, taking eight to 10 weeks to complete.
Parts of the hospital car park will close from 5pm on Sunday to allow contractors to install a temporary steel mesh and strapping system on parts of the building affected by water ingress.
The project is expected to involve extensive noise from drilling and site work.
NHS Shetland said the work is an important safety measure designed to protect patients, visitors and staff while longer-term solutions are developed and delivered.
The temporary steel mesh will be installed around the four-storey tower block, ward three and the maternity department.
The health board said that while there will inevitably be increased noise and disruption during this period, every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum.
All hospital departments are expected to remain in their current locations, and patients will continue to access services as normal.
Once complete, the installation will allow the removal of the external scaffolding and internal support structures currently affecting areas such as outpatients and the main corridor.
The mesh system will also significantly reduce the risk associated with any potential future structural issues, NHS Shetland added.
In the hospital car park, the area fully enclosed by fencing will be restricted to authorised personnel involved in the works.
As the closure will interrupt the usual one-way flow of traffic around the car park, drivers are asked not to use the two parking spaces at the east end of the car park.
Hospital staff have been reminded that primary parking remains at Brevik House.
NHS Shetland head of estates and project director David Wagstaff said this was “an important milestone” in the construction work.
“Installing the temporary steel mesh system will provide an additional layer of protection for patients, visitors and staff while allowing us to progress towards longer-term solutions for the building,” he said.
“We recognise that the work will bring some temporary disruption, including changes to parking arrangements and some unavoidable noise while construction is taking place.
“We are working closely with our contractors to minimise the impact as much as possible and ensure services can continue to operate safely and effectively.
“We would like to thank our staff, patients and the wider community for their patience and support as we take this important next step.”
NHS Shetland said it recognised that the works would cause some inconvenience, and thanked the public for their “continued patience and understanding”.
Work to make the hospital wind and watertight began earlier this year, with the project set to take two to five years.
In December 2025, NHS Shetland submitted a revised full business case to the Scottish Government which outlined the proposed temporary steel solution and the funding required to deliver it.
The initial cost of the project was estimated at £10 million, though this was said to have risen “significantly” by December last year.
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