The Royal Edinburgh Hospital has been placed under lockdown following the detection of Legionella bacteria. NHS Lothian officials confirmed that the bacteria was found in the Kennedy Tower of the hospital. As a result, the facility's doors have been closed while the situation is assessed.

Staff members have been relocated as a precaution. Authorities have reassured residents that the Kennedy Tower is not accessible to patients and has not been fully occupied for some time. The bacteria was identified during routine building management and water quality monitoring.

This incident comes amid a concerning rise in cases of Legionnaires' disease in Scotland, which have more than tripled over the past three years, according to Public Health Scotland. Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection that can be contracted by inhaling contaminated water droplets from sources such as air conditioning systems or hot tubs. Although it is relatively uncommon, it poses significant health risks.

Data shows that cases of Legionnaires' disease fell to just 16 in 2021 but rose to 44 in 2022, 53 in 2023, and reached 57 in 2024. Edinburgh experienced a severe outbreak in 2012, resulting in four fatalities and 45 hospital admissions, with nearly 100 individuals infected and over 1,000 reporting potential symptoms. The source of that outbreak, which primarily affected the south-west of Edinburgh, was never identified, and no criminal proceedings or Fatal Accident Inquiries were initiated.

Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Lothian, stated, "As part of our routine building management and water quality monitoring, we have detected the presence of legionella bacteria in the water system at Kennedy Tower. Kennedy Tower is not accessible to patients and has not been fully occupied for some time. As a precautionary measure, the building is now closed and the small number of staff who were using the facility have been relocated, and the situation is being closely monitored."