A water leak at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness has forced NHS Highland to pause some planned surgical procedures and restrict visitor access to affected wards. The health board confirmed that the incident, which occurred on the sixth floor, had spread to multiple areas within the building before being contained.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene at approximately midday to address a burst pipe, departing around 20 minutes after arrival. NHS Highland subsequently implemented precautionary measures to maintain patient safety across the facility.
What areas of the hospital were affected?
The leak originated on the sixth floor but impacted a broader section of the building. As a result, NHS Highland requested that visitors refrain from attending wards on the fourth and fifth floors for the coming days to facilitate staff movement and allow time for patient relocation where necessary.
Which services continue to operate?
Day-case procedures are proceeding as scheduled, and the hospital continues to provide emergency care and urgent treatment without interruption. Only some planned surgery was temporarily suspended while the health board verified that conditions remained safe for resuming operations.
This incident reflects a broader pattern of water-related infrastructure challenges affecting Scottish hospitals. A similar water leak at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in August 2026 resulted in mould contamination in non-clinical spaces and forced the closure of two vascular procedure laboratories, while Inverclyde Royal Hospital has faced persistent water leak problems following heavy rainfall.
What is NHS Highland asking of the public?
The health board appealed for public cooperation during the immediate aftermath of the incident. In a statement, NHS Highland said:
As a precaution, some planned surgery was paused while we ensured it remains safe to proceed. Day-case procedures are being carried out, and we are continuing to care for emergency patients and anyone who needs urgent care and treatment. We would ask people to support us over the next few hours and defer visiting loved ones on the fourth and fifth floor to allow us time to ensure that our teams can move around the building and relocate patients where required. We are grateful for your understanding while we continue to ensure the hospital continues to be safe.
Key Facts
- A burst pipe on the sixth floor of Raigmore Hospital triggered the water leak
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responded at midday and resolved the immediate emergency
- Visitor restrictions apply to the fourth and fifth floors for several days
- Emergency and urgent care services remain fully operational
- Day-case procedures continue without disruption
