Children’s Hospital completion delayed again as April deadline missed. Costs now expected to reach €2.2bn with no new completion date confirmed.
The completion date for Ireland’s new Children’s Hospital in Dublin has been delayed once again, with the latest deadline now missed and no new completion date currently confirmed.
The massive infrastructure project, officially known as the National Children’s Hospital, had been due for substantial completion by April 30th, but the Oireachtas Health Committee has now been told that this deadline will not be met.
19th completion date missed
The hospital project has faced repeated delays, with this now effectively becoming the 19th completion date for the development. The original completion date had been set for August 2022, but the project has faced ongoing construction, design and contractual issues.
The project is being led by main contractor BAM, which informed the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board that the April completion deadline would not be achieved.
David Gunning, Chief Officer of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, told the Oireachtas Health Committee that the delay was a major disappointment.
He said BAM had indicated that while the full substantial completion date would not be met, some areas of the hospital are expected to be completed by the end of April.
New completion date expected
The contractor has now been formally asked to provide a new construction programme, and they have 15 working days to respond with an updated timeline. Only then will a new expected completion date be known.
Even after construction is completed, the hospital will still require an estimated seven-month commissioning period before it can fully open and begin treating patients.
Costs rise to €2.2 billion
The cost of the Children’s Hospital has also increased dramatically. The project was originally expected to cost around €650 million, but the total cost is now expected to reach approximately €2.2 billion, funded by taxpayers.
The Oireachtas committee heard criticism of the project and how it has been managed, with some TDs describing the development as deeply problematic due to delays, rising costs and contract issues.
Concerns over opening during winter
There are also concerns about the timing of the hospital opening, particularly if it falls during the winter period when hospitals are under the most pressure due to flu and other seasonal illnesses.
Children’s Health Ireland chief executive Lucy Nugent said planning is ongoing to ensure the hospital can open safely, with risk assessments being carried out regarding the timing of the move and patient transfers.
She said the organisation is examining how other hospitals around the world managed major moves, including one hospital in Norway that moved during winter, although on a smaller scale.
Major national project
The new Children’s Hospital is one of the largest healthcare projects ever undertaken in Ireland and, when completed, will bring together paediatric services into one major national facility.
However, the continued delays mean there is still uncertainty about when the hospital will finally open its doors to patients and families who have been waiting for the new facility for several years.
