The project to create Scotland’s largest Children’s hospital reached a significant milestone yesterday as NHS Lothian took ownership of the £150 million Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at Little France.
There have been many ups and downs along the way but formal signing of papers means the anticipated opening date is Monday 15th July. Patients and services will be moved in a well choreographed sequence during the 10 days prior to that, beginning Friday 5th July.
Children from Craigour Park Primary School in Moredun were invited to mark the construction milestone yesterday.
Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be moving in the summer. It has taken hard work from a great many people to get to this stage and I am thrilled that we now have possession of the building and can begin to make it ready to receive its first patients.
“It has undeniably been a long road but we have been very clear from the outset that we wanted the best facility possible for patients, families and staff and that is what they shall get. Huge thanks go to everyone for their extraordinary patience and commitment to this vision”.
During the five month commissioning period which now follows, the building with be fully kitted out to transform it into a fully functioning state of the art hospital.
Janice Mackenzie, Clinical Director on the reprovision project said: “The commissioning period is really important. Everything from furniture to sophisticated high tech equipment needs to be delivered, installed, and tested. Staff orientation and training is also a vital part of this process and they are eager to get going. It’s going to be an exciting time.”
The new hospital will house 62 departments from the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Sciennes in Edinburgh; the Department of Clinical Neurosciences which moves across the city from the Western General Hospital; and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services which relocates from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Morningside.
The largest commissioned Art and Therapeutic Design programme in Europe will also be on display in the new hospital, provided by over £5million of charitable funding.
There is also home-from-home accommodation for families provided by Ronald McDonald House Charity.
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