Ministers promise £50m for a new Sick Kids within five years

Published on Wednesday 10 September 2008 10:16

THE Scottish Government is set to pledge almost £50 million towards a new Sick Kids hospital to be built beside the ERI, it emerged today.

The Evening News can reveal ministers have given their approval for the new hospital, which will be open within five years.

The current ageing building in Sciennes will be sold off to help fund the new facility.

Chairman of NHS Lothian, Dr Charles Winstanley, said the hospital would be operational by 2013 at the latest, although it is expected to be completed well before then. Now that the Outline Business Case has been given the green light by Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon, NHS Lothian will prepare plans to submit to the council, which could be considered as early as next year.

The total cost of the project is not yet known, but it will be aided by a 48.5m contribution from the Scottish Government. The rest will be raised from the sale of the current building, which is expected to bring in as much as 23m, given its prime location and part-listed status.

It is also hoped some public fundraising will contribute to the total cost of the new scheme.

While the exact location for the new hospital at Little France is yet to be determined, approval of the business case comes as a massive boost to the health board, especially given how tough such plans can be to get past the Government at the first attempt.

Senior figures within NHS Lothian are also understood to be delighted that it will not be built as part of a Private Finance Initiative.

Dr Winstanley said: "There are many exciting developments but plans to build a new Sick Kids has really captured the enthusiasm of the board. I was delighted to hear that the Scottish Government has formally signed off the business case for the brand new hospital."

Jackie Sansbury, director of strategic planning at NHS Lothian, added: "This is very welcome news. We are grateful to the Scottish Government for its backing.

"This confirmation means we can press ahead with NHS Lothian's preferred option of a publicly-funded new hospital for children and young people.

Earlier this year, the Evening News launched a campaign to save services at the Sick Kids after it emerged there were plans to move specialist cancer and neurology treatment to Glasgow.

The campaign petition gathered more than 20,000 signatures and in February a report recommended that the services should be retained in Edinburgh

A consultation which took place about a new hospital found that the current site, built in the late 1800s, was already too small for purpose, but due to its residential location and because part of it is listed, it would be impossible to expand it. Little France was the overwhelmingly popular choice, largely due to its proximity to adult services at the ERI.