The completion of the new national children’s hospital (NCH) in the UK is set to face further setbacks, according to what the UK parliament’s public expenditure watchdog is expected to be informed of. The project has been slowed down by a host of factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic, which has noticeably affected the timeline, despite predictions that the hospital would be mostly finished by October 29th. However, this date will not be met, the UK’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will learn this Thursday.
David Gunning, the top official of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, the body supervising the project, will inform deputies that the primary contractor, BAM, has suggested even more delay in finishing the project. In his initial remarks, Mr Gunning is also set to mention the ongoing delay in finishing the project as the main reason behind the cost escalation.
To obtain assurance, every feasible contractual leverage is being utilised, while continuous engagement with BAM is being made to determine methods to ensure timely and definite completion of the project. Once the NCH construction is largely completed, additional months will be needed for furnishing and inauguration, indicating that children might not be receiving treatment in the new facility until sometime in 2025.
In 2014, the project’s initial cost estimate was set at €800 million, which drastically rose to €1.433 billion in 2018 under the minority Government led by Fine Gael. An anticipated additional €300 million is to be allocated for integrating and transferring services from the three existing children’s hospitals in Dublin, including IT and inauguration expenses, raising the total spending to around €1.73 billion.
However, this year, the Government confirmed another increase in the cost of the NCH, with the total investment approved currently standing at €2.24 billion.
The costs associated with the design, construction, and outfitting of this project also encompass satellite centres at Tallaght and Connolly hospitals which are already operational. These costs also include the construction of the main hospital adjacent to the St James’s Hospital campus, and an additional expense of €360 million for merging and transitioning services to the NCH. Mr Gunning plans to provide an update on the primary site’s progress in his introductory address to the PAC.
The external aspect of the building inclusive of the glazing has been finished, and all the tower cranes have been taken down from the construction site. “The interior of the 380 individual patient rooms are nearing the final stages, with the installation of fixtures, private bathrooms, sliding doors, custom woodwork and medical equipment currently underway,” says Mr Gunning.
At the same time, he reports that “Specialist equipment which needs to be installed in the hospital before it is fully completed is currently being set up.” This includes devices such as MRIs, CT scanners, X-rays, theatre imaging equipment, CDU washers, sterilisers, and automated guided vehicles. Mr Gunning goes on to confirm that all hospital system’s commissioning is well on its way.
Furthermore, the PAC will be informed that the commencement of the construction for the 52-bedroom Ronald McDonald House, intended to provide lodging for families with children receiving treatment at the hospital, has set off.