No prosecutions after Legionnaire’s outbreak
Council to help residents save money on energy bills
Walk the Walk
Robert Louis Stevenson award
Accies ground licence application
The Crown Office has issued a statement advising that there will be no charges brought as a result of the 2012 Legionnaire’s outbreak which caused four deaths.
“Between 5 June and 15 July 2012 four people died as a result of a Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak in Edinburgh. A multi-agency Incident Management Team, led by NHS Lothian and including the Health and Safety Executive and City of Edinburgh Council, responded quickly and effectively to minimise the impact on public health.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive and Lothian and Borders Police into the circumstances of the deaths began immediately under the direction of the specialist Health and Safety Division of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
The investigation was thorough and scientifically complex and involved detailed analysis of samples from a number of sites in an effort to identify the source of the bacteria that caused the deaths of four people.
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the scientists, it has proved impossible to identify the source of the Legionella bacteria which resulted in the death of four people. As a result Crown Counsel has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute any person or organisation for the deaths.
The decision on whether or not to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry is yet to be made. This decision will be made following consultation with the families.
As a result of the investigation a number of Reports were submitted to the Crown Office for breaches of Health and Safety regulations unrelated to the deaths of the four people. Crown Counsel have instructed that a number of companies be prosecuted on Indictment in relation to those breaches.
Gary Aitken, Head of the Health and Safety Division of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said:
“Following a complex and thorough investigation which involved detailed genetic analysis we can only conclude that there is no scientific basis for any prosecution related to the deaths and as a result no criminal proceedings are instructed by Crown Counsel.
“This was always going to be a difficult and complex investigation due to the number of potential sources in the Gorgie area but we continued on in the hope that the necessary scientific evidence would come to light. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened.
“We will now consult further with the families before making any decision in relation to a Fatal Accident Inquiry.”
Professor Alison McCallum, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lothian, said:
“I would like to once again express my sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of those who died during this outbreak and the patients who were affected by Legionella.
“The actions taken by the Incident Management Team at the time of the outbreak minimised the impact on public health. However, as is often the case in outbreaks of this nature, the further microbiological, environmental and genetic investigations have been unable to definitively establish the specific source.
“The review of outbreak management and the subsequent public health research has proved valuable in enhancing the existing knowledge on Legionella outbreaks and control and we have shared our experiences with other public health teams. On behalf of the Incident Management Team I would like those who contributed to this research and the multi-agency team for their efforts.”
HSE Head of Operations in Scotland, Alistair McNab said:
“This was the largest outbreak in Scotland in the last ten years and one of the most complex HSE has investigated, involving visits to multiple sites and dutyholders including contractors and sub-contractors to check compliance with legionella control standards.
“As HSE and public health experts made clear at the time of the outbreak the source may never be conclusively identified, based on our experience from previous outbreaks. Two smaller outbreaks occurred within Scotland during 2013 and again, despite extensive and thorough investigation, the sources could not be proved.
“This can be due to the fact that Legionnaires’ disease can have a long incubation period of up to 19 days, so by the time an outbreak is notified to HSE and other regulatory bodies and sampling carried out on water systems, the bacteria levels may have changed or the source producing bacteria may have ceased operation. In addition, as a precautionary measure to prevent further ill health when an outbreak is declared, companies are encouraged to shock-dose their cooling towers with chemicals, which again can prevent positively identifying the source.”
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The City of Edinburgh Council is to spend at least £3.3 million to make private homes across the capital warmer, more environmentally friendly and cheaper to heat.
In a programme run in partnership with Home Energy Scotland, residents of Dumbiedykes, Moredun, West Mains, South Queensferry and Niddrie Mill will benefit from investment in cavity wall and loft insulation to improve their homes, reduce carbon emissions and lower their energy bills.
The investment is being delivered through Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS), which is part of the Scottish Government’s programme to increase energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty – two key elements of Edinburgh’s City Housing Strategy.
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The MoonWalk Scotland is celebrating its 10th Anniversary on 13th June at Inverleith Park and organisers breast cancer charity Walk the Walk are inviting everybody to join them by signing up for one of four different challenges all to raise money, raise awareness, get fit and have fun!
The excitement for the Hottest Party in Town is already building with The Red Hot Chilli Pipers set to perform to thousands of women and men as they enjoy the electric atmosphere before they start their Midnight Challenges.
Edinburgh Castle, Lloyds on the Mound and many other iconic buildings in Scotland’s Capital City will be lit up pink on the night in support of the wonderful walkers and volunteers.
Find out more about how you can join in here
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Two Edinburgh-based writers have been named as two out of four recipients of the 2015 Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship.
Lynsey May (32) and poet and playwright Michael Pedersen (30) have been named by Scottish Book Trust as winners of the award which involves a month-long writing residency in France.
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Four licence applications have been lodged for the new stadium being built at Raeburn Place, and this has provoked reaction from those who opposed the planning application in the first place. The four planning applications cover the clubhouse, function suites, restaurants, cafe, gym, museum, cinema, theatre and the retail properties which will form a part of the new building.
A spokesperson for Save Stockbridge said:
“We now see the true horror of the Academicals’ intentions. A massive licensed facility for every conceivable public event. Live music. Up to 6000 people. Suites of function rooms with bars. Licensed restaurants for hundreds of diners with drinkers spilling out onto the pavement. Yet another shop licensed for off-sales. Don’t they know this is a residential area.”
“The Licensing Board will surely see that this scale of alcohol licensing will strengthen the culture of excessive alcohol consumption. If a sport has to rely so heavily on alcohol to fuel its growth something is wrong.”
“Comely Bank Road does not deserve to become the next Grassmarket. This is a residential area. Houses surround the proposed drinking emporium on 3 sides. There are two secondary schools in the next street. What sane person would licence a massive building in this location?”
“The Board must defer consideration of these applications to a later meeting so that the public and statutory consultees like the police and NHS Lothian have the time to properly consider them. There is no urgency. The Accies haven’t turned a sod yet. Because the Board don’t provide copies of the plans which accompany licence applications, the public have to visit the Board’s Offices to even see what is proposed. They must be given time.”
You may see all recent alcohol licence applications here.
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
