Edinburgh's Sick Kids hospital to undergo full review

A full review into delays to the opening of Edinburgh's Sick Kids hospital has been ordered by the Scottish Government.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who overruled NHS Lothian over plans to open the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) in Edinburgh at the start of July, admitted it is not known when the site will be safe for use.

Patients, staff and services at NHS Lothian's Royal Hospital for Sick Children were expected to transfer to the RHCYP on July 9, but the plans were halted after final checks revealed the critical care department's ventilation system did not meet national standards.

Ms Freeman postponed the move and now says that NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) are working at the site to "give quality assurance on the water, ventilation and drainage systems and establish a timeframe for services to move safely to the new hospital.''

Other newly-built hospitals and NHS buildings will also be reviewed by NSS to check whether they meet the required standards.

The ventilation, water and drainage systems are to undergo thorough checks by experts, further delaying its opening.

A report is set to be published in September which could push the opening date to early next year.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "I understand that this is a disappointing and worrying time for parents and carers of patients who have appointments at the new children's hospital

"However, safe, effective and high quality clinical services continue to be delivered from the existing site in Sciennes.

"The work carried out by NSS will give quality assurance on the water, ventilation and drainage systems and establish a timeframe for services to move safely to the new hospital.

"I recognise and appreciate that NHS Lothian staff have made considerable efforts both in the lead up to the planned move and following the delay.

"I have written to staff today to thank them for their hard work and for all that they are doing to help manage the situation, and for their excellent track record of proving high-quality patient care."

There are now calls for a full public inquiry into the delays.

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Miles Briggs said: “All of these measures announced by the SNP government will only delay things further.

“This is a much-needed facility which was supposed to open in 2012 – the SNP has been in charge the whole time and must take final responsibility for the failure of this project.

“Families and staff will look at this announcement and wonder why these things weren’t demanded of the construction firms from the outset.

“After all, the nationalists have had seven years of delays in which they could have ensured these boxes were ticked.

“The only way to establish the extent of what has gone wrong, why it has happened, and how we can ensure it’s not repeated, it to have a full Scottish Parliament inquiry.

“It’s the very least patients, their loved ones and the hardworking staff deserve."

It is also understood auditors KPMG will look into how the project has been governed.