Nine-month delay hits new Sick Kids

Published on Monday 27 September 2010 13:53

THE opening of Edinburgh's new Sick Kids Hospital has been delayed by another nine months - meaning it won't now be operational until at least the summer of 2014.

Problems in negotiating land from owners Scottish Enterprise for car parking are understood to be the main reason for the latest hold-up. It means the flagship 150 million project is 18 months behind its original schedule. It is understood health chiefs are annoyed at how long it took to conclude the deal for the car park, which will be a replacement for the current ERI facility which is making way for the new Sick Kids.

Jackie Sansbury, chief operating officer for acute services, NHS Lothian, said: "The new Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Little France is a complex project and time frames can often change.

"Negotiations to buy the land to build an additional car park on the Little France site took longer than expected and we were unable to commence the next phase of the work until these negotiations were complete. Construction work is still on track to start in 2011."

After a flying start to the process - when the Scottish Government approved the outline business case without reply and pledged 50m - progress has stuttered.

An understanding between NHS Lothian and Holyrood that a 48m brain unit attached to the new Sick Kids would be paid for by Government evaporated, with ministers telling health chiefs to seek private finance for it.

Given the recent experience with the ERI PFI deal - which will see the health board pay Consort 1.2 billion over 25 years but never own it - health chiefs are keen to stay away from anything other than public funding. That project is currently on ice, meaning specialist brain services won't be part of the Sick Kids to begin with.

The second major delay also means the present location at Sciennes will have to be maintained for another nine months, despite experts saying it is no longer fit for purpose.