A new Northern Ireland children's hospital has been given the
formal go-ahead, with work scheduled to begin in a matter of
days.
The 10-floor state-of-the-art facility, which is an Executive
flagship project, will be located within Belfast's Royal Victoria
Hospital site. There will be 155 beds, 10 theatres, and an
emergency department capable of catering for up to 45,000
children per year. Eighty per cent of the beds will be in single
rooms with private ensuite facilities, and each ward will benefit
from social and play spaces, with parent facilities and separate
staff areas.
First Minister said: “Providing
high quality care for our sick and seriously ill children is a
priority for this Executive. This is very welcome and
long-awaited news for families across the north. Once completed
the new hospital will provide our children and young people with
access to the very best medical treatment as well as improving
their overall experience of hospital care. I look forward to work
starting on the hospital within the next few days and the
significant benefits it will bring to staff and
patients.”
Deputy First Minister said: “This
new Children's Hospital at the Royal Victoria Hospital will
transform services for children in a modern and fit for purpose
facility. The investment by the Executive in this new hospital is
a sign of our commitment to providing the highest quality care
for our children. The state-of-the-art facility, equipped with
the latest technology and play spaces, and staffed by dedicated
professionals, will ensure that children receive the very best
treatment in a nurturing and healing environment.
"It is imperative that we improve our healthcare services
and drive down health waiting lists. That's why this Executive
has made this a priority and we will continue to work closely
with the Health Minister on this important work.”
With a five-year construction timetable, the new hospital is
projected to be opened by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust at
the beginning of the next decade.
The construction works are valued at £389million, with the
overall development projected to cost £671m. The works costs will
be spread over the five-year construction period and will be
funded from the Department of Health capital budget, rather than
the separate budget for day to day health and social care
services.
Health Minister said: “This is
excellent news for children and parents across Northern Ireland,
and for our dedicated health and social care professionals who
deliver outstanding care to children and young people.
Patients and staff deserve the very best facilities that we
can provide and the new Children's Hospital will be truly world
class, a healthcare facility that we can all be proud
of.
“While we celebrate the go-ahead for this prestigious new
facility, it's important to acknowledge that, in common with
major children's hospital developments in Scotland and RoI, this
project has had a difficult history with significant delays and
cost increases.
“I tasked Departmental officials to identify the key
lessons from the new Maternity Hospital project and ensure that
they were applied ahead of the contract signing for the new
Children's Hospital. It is essential that a range of improvements
are secured to the management of this project.”
Interim Chief Executive of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust,
Maureen Edwards said: “I am absolutely delighted that work will
soon begin on the new children's hospital. This is a much-needed
hospital that will ensure future generations of children in
Northern Ireland will continue to receive exemplary, specialist,
and dedicated care, but in a modern 21st century building. I am
excited for current staff and for those to come, who will finally
have a contemporary hospital building suitable for the needs of
the children and the families they care for.”
Notes to editors:
- The Health Minister carefully reviewed the value for money
grounds for continuing with the Children's Hospital development.
Not proceeding was a carefully considered option. Overall, the
substantial future benefits for sick children and their families
were the decisive factor in the Minister's deliberations.
- The contract will include the use of a new engineering
contract (NEC), which is a new form of construction contract that
contains contractual requirements demanding timely
decision-making with collaborative, agreed outcomes.
- Belfast Trust now has a new Director of Strategic Development
who is senior responsible owner for the children's hospital
development. Much of his workload will be attributable to the
project. The Department of Health will have active oversight of
the project and will liaise closely with the Trust and contractor
throughout the construction period.
- The existing children's hospital premises are becoming
increasingly outdated and inadequate.
- The company awarded the contract to build the new Children's
Hospital is GBHP.
