Troubled Aberdeen hospital project faces further delays

An Aberdeen maternity hospital and cancer centre project originally meant to open in 2020 has been further delayed.

The Baird Family Hospital and Anchor Cancer Centre were initially expected to cost up to £134m, but that later rose to £438.6m.

The last timing update was that the Anchor Centre was scheduled to open this July, while the Baird Family Hospital was due to start receiving patients in June next year.

NHS Grampian has now pushed Anchor back to December, and Baird to September next year - with the potential for further delays.

Project approval was given more than 10 years ago, but building work did not start until 2021.

Construction - at the main Foresterhill campus in Aberdeen - has been hit by problems including issues with water and ventilation systems and design issues.

In March, BBC Scotland News revealed wall panels and insulation have had to be ripped out due to mould.

Infection control teams sounded the alarm after construction materials were allowed to get wet.

The Baird Family Hospital will offer maternity and breast-screening services, as well as a neonatal unit and operating theatre.

The Anchor Centre will bring together services including radiotherapy, oncology, haematology and research.

A report by project director Ian Matthewson will go before the NHS Grampian Board on Thursday.

The project has experienced "significant complexity and challenge", the report says.

"The delay in opening to the Anchor is largely as a result of a project board decision in March to add a secondary sterilization unit to strengthen and protect the water system."

The report explains: "The project is currently at a critical stage, with delivery dependent on resolving technical, assurance and commercial matters.

"The project remains important to improving patient care, experience and safety."

The Anchor's new date of December is said to have the risk of running into the first quarter of 2027.

It adds: "There is ongoing risk to further delay for both facilities."

NHS Grampian's interim director of infrastructure, Jug Johal, said the board was "not currently anticipating further delays".

He told BBC Scotland News: "We're working really hard, we're focused on absolutely trying to get those buildings completed."

Johal added: "We apologise for the delay.

"We want to ensure these are high-quality buildings to deliver the best patient care that we can."

The budget remains £438.6m.

Health Secretary Angela Constance said: "Safety is always paramount and NHS Grampian is implementing several changes to the new hospital as a result of clinical recommendations, following a design review. This has impacted completion date and cost.

"We are focused on ensuring the Anchor Centre and Baird Family Hospital opens as soon as it's safe to do so. We are clear we will not compromise on issues of patient safety."