Several operations due to take place in Glasgow have been cancelled after a unit responsible for sterilising surgical equipment was closed.

A total of 53 operations at six different hospitals in the city will be postponed to a later date after inspectors found issues with the fabric of the Cowlairs decontamination unit in Springburn.

The facility at Cowlairs, which opened in 2005, supplies all Glasgow hospitals and all work will now be transferred to another unit in Inverclyde Royal.

Whilst the issues did not directly relate to the unit's processes for sterilising equipment, it has been closed to allow remedial work to be carried out.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde insist that every effort is being made to deliver instruments needed for the days ahead and that the majority of surgery is progressing as planned.

The health board said " Whilst these issues did not directly relate to the unit's processes for sterilising equipment, the unit has been closed to allow remedial work to be carried out.

"Our overriding priority is our patients and every effort is being made to ensure that there is capacity using our own unit at Inverclyde and working with neighbouring NHS boards to deliver instruments for the programme of elective and emergency surgery over the days ahead.

"The majority of surgery is progressing as planned and It is our intention to have the facility back in operation as soon as possible.

"Health Facilities Scotland's decontamination team are supporting us in this work."