Work to remove the Grenfell-style cladding on two Glasgow hospitals will cost £6 million and will be paid for by the Scottish Government, it has emerged.

Officials at Glasgow’s flagship Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) revealed last year that the £842m hospital uses the same cladding found in parts of the Grenfell Tower, the scene of a devastating fire in London which claimed 71 lives.

Months later the Royal Hospital for Children announced the removal of external cladding was required as a precautionary measure.

Documents released at the time stated a “further issue” had been identified in external cladding used at the children’s hospital, but added the risk level was “extremely low”.

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Replacement products for cladding panels on sections of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and on a section of the Royal Hospital for Children have now been identified and the process of preparing to remove and replace is now getting under way.

“The board has been given assurances from the National Fire Officer that the hospitals are amongst the safest buildings in the UK in terms of fire engineering.

“However, the decision was taken replace panels to give extra reassurance to the public, our patients and our staff.”

The type of insulation on the hospitals has not been identified, but it is understood to be similar to cladding fitted to Grenfell Tower and may have been partly responsible for spreading the fire.

Works to remove the cladding are expected to be completed over the next 12 months.

The spokesman added: “The replacement materials will not change the outward appearance of the hospitals and the engineering process to remove and replace them will not require alterations to the buildings.

“To ensure minimal disruption the works will be spread over several months - everything scheduled to be completed within 12 months of the building warrant approval being granted.

“The total cost of replacing the cladding panels will be in the region of £6m with the works being funded by the Scottish Government.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We have agreed to fund these costs and we will be formally writing to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to confirm.”