The facilty at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh – where surgical instruments are cleaned and prepared in an ultra-clean environment – serves the whole of NHS Lothian.

The closure forced the postponement of planned and non-emergency surgery on Friday and across the weekend and will mean no routine elective procedures can go ahead.

Procedures in NHS Lothian will now be disrupted for a minimum of two to four weeks.

NHS Lothian has temporarily closed its Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Unit (HSDU) at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh due to a small water leak.

The health board said more urgent surgery would be considered daily on a case-by-case basis to prioritise the most clinically urgent.

HSDU is the facility where surgical instruments are cleaned and prepared for surgery. An ultra-clean environment is essential.

Tracey Gillies, NHS Lothian medical director, said: “We are sincerely sorry to all patients who have been or who will be affected by this problem.

“The decision to postpone any operation is never easy as we know how disappointing and stressful that can be. Unfortunately, it is essential in order to ensure sufficient clean surg

NHS Lothian: Surgeries cancelled across Lothians after water leak forces closure of key unit at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh