New Edinburgh children’s hospital delayed

A new flagship children’s hospital hit by safety concerns will not open until at least next year, it has been confirmed.

The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh had been due to open in July but a site inspection found problems with ventilation and water systems, causing the opening to be delayed.

The delay is expected to come at an additional estimated cost of £16 million.

The Scottish Government has said the Department of Clinical Neurosciences will move to the new hospital site in spring 2020, with the rest of the children’s hospital migrating to the new site in the autumn.

Yesterday, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said an independent report by KPMG identified the main issue with ventilation in critical care stemmed from an error in a document produced by NHS Lothian at the tender stage in 2012.

FLAGSHIP: The opening has been pushed back after problems were found with ventilation and water systems