A programme of improvement measures has been put in place to ensure patient safety at the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) – but Conservative politicians are calling for a parliamentary inquiry to get to the bottom of what has gone wrong with the beleaguered project.
There is speculation that new checks could now delay the opening of the new hospital until March or April next year.
NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) will undertake a detailed assessment of compliance of all building systems which could impact on the safety of patients and staff at the new site.
This will be phased, with assessment of water, ventilation and drainage systems prioritised, including the proposed fix for the ventilation unit. This will determine the timeframe for services moving to the new hospital and a full report is anticipated in September.
NSS will also review current and recently completed major NHS capital projects and provide assurances that the same standards have been complied with.
To establish the factors that led to the delay, KPMG began an independent review of the governance arrangements for RHCYP on Monday (15 July).
In addition, the Health Secretary has escalated NHS Lothian to Level 3 of the NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework. A package of tailored support will be made available to the health board to drive forward improvements.
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.
“Infection prevention must always be embedded within the design, planning, construction and commissioning activities of all new and refurbished healthcare facilities, which is why I have also instructed NSS to review current and recently completed major NHS capital projects and provide assurances that the same standards have been adhered to.
“KPMG are also now on site independently reviewing the governance arrangements for the new children’s hospital to establish the factors that led to the delay.
“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 providing high-quality patient care.”
The ‘scandal’ of Edinburgh’s new Sick Kids hospital must be probed by the Scottish Parliament, a Tory MSP has said. Shadow health secretary Miles Briggs made the call after it emerged the opening could be delayed even further after a raft of new checks were announced.
All of this is likely to mean more delays to the opening of a facility which was meant to be up-and-running in 2012 – and now the Scottish Conservatives are demanding the whole saga is investigated by Holyrood’s Health Committee.
The project has been plagued by problems from the start, including a row about how much money the Scottish Government would stump up for the hospital, and a multi-million pound fundraising scheme which ended in debt, sparking a criminal investigation.
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.”
The decision to halt the move to the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People was taken by the Health Secretary on July 4.
Parents and carers are being contacted directly by the team at the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children to confirm arrangements for their child’s appointment.
Those with appointments in July are being contacted by phone in the first instance and those with appointments in August onwards will be contacted by letter. Every effort is being made to retain the same appointment date and time wherever possible.
A dedicated helpline (0800 028 2816) is in place for families and carers to discuss any concerns about appointments or treatment with the clinical team already caring for their child.
NHS Board Performance Escalation Framework
| Board | Current Stage | Date Escalated/De-Escalated | Primary Factors |
| NHS Tayside | 4 | Stage 4 February 2019 | Financial position and financial management; governance and leadership |
| NHS Highland | 4 | Stage 4 November 2018 | Financial position and financial management; governance, leadership and culture |
| NHS Borders | 4 | Stage 4 November 2018 | Financial position and management; leadership |
| NHS Ayrshire & Arran | 3 | Stage 3 July 2018 | Financial position and management |
| NHS Lothian | 3 | Stage 3 July 2019 | Performance and management |
25
0
20
