Bid to replace lifts at Boston Pilgrim Hospital

Lifts at an ageing hospital could be replaced under new plans.

Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group says it will be applying to the Building Safety Regulator to replace the lifts at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital.

LincsOnline has received reports of the lifts at the Sibsey Road site being out of order last month and in some cases people having to wait 30 minutes.

A hospital spokesperson said: "Due to our wards being spread over eight floors, we appreciate there can sometimes be a delay for lifts at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston.

"We work with a specialist lift contractor for planned, reactive and preventative maintenance in line with statutory requirements and try to minimise disruption where possible, however, as some parts are not manufactured in the UK there can unfortunately be delays for these parts.

"This financial year we will be submitting an application to the Building Safety Regulator to replace the lifts at Pilgrim hospital which is a new legal requirement. Many lifts throughout our estate have been replaced within the last few years, and if this application is approved the work will be completed in the next three years.

"Priority for lifts will always be given to moving patients staying on our wards, and we thank our visitors coming into our hospitals for their patience in supporting us to move our patients with dignity."

Last month, the group assured patients that its hospitals are ‘safe and clean environments’ after questions were raised about maintenance of Boston hospital.

The reassurance was given after news editor Victoria Fear took a picture of a crack in an internal wall near the lifts during a visit to the hospital and also witnessed a clinical staff member having to push a lift door shut in order for it to work.

A reader reported on our website that the lifts in the main tower had ‘gone from bad to worse’ with one being out of order for a minimum of four days with the second also going out of service.

The reader posted: “I have heard people saying in some instances having to wait 30 mins for a lift. On the stairs there is a trip hazard, with floor covering peeling away.”

Thousands of people from across south Lincolnshire travel to the nearly 60-year-old hospital for treatment and tests.