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RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
BAM Ireland director 'understands frustrations' on National Children's Hospital delays
The executive director of BAM Ireland, the contractor involved in the construction of the new National Children's Hospital in Dublin, has said he can understand people's frustrations surrounding the delays the project has faced. Alasdair Henderson also acknowledged that the delivery of the hospital is currently "a bit complex." The most recent date given for the opening of the new children's hospital is this September, but a nine-month commissioning period will mean it will be at least June of next year before it receives its first patients. The project has failed to meet its final deadline 15 times since 2020. David Gunning, the Chief Officer of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB), last month appeared before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee. Mr Gunning told the committee that he did not have faith in BAM and that he estimates it is costing the State €2 million each month the project is delayed. He said the contractor, BAM maintains the delays are caused by design change, something which he disputes. Mr Henderson today provided a brief update on the project. He was speaking in Co Louth at the site of another project for which BAM is the contractor, the Narrow Water Bridge. The bridge will link Omeath in Co Louth with Warrenpoint on the other side of the border in Co Down. The project is on track to be delivered on time by the end of 2027 and within budget. Speaking about the new National Children's Hospital, Mr Henderson said that everybody working on the project is determined to get it finished as quickly as they possibly can. He said: "We're 98% plus finished on that project. It's a really important project for the State, just like this one [the Narrow Water Bridge]. "Again, the benefits that are realised from that when you deliver those projects are huge. "Yes, it's a bit complex right now. I think everybody understands that, but understand that when it's delivered, what it means for paediatric care across the island of Ireland is absolutely transforming," Mr Henderson added. Mr Henderson was also asked if he could understand people's frustrations surrounding the delays the construction of the hospital has faced. He replied: "I can understand that. I think, rest assured, that everybody working on that project, and every part of it, is determined to get the project finished just as quickly as we possibly can."
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
CHI unable to move in to national children's hospital due to continued delays
Children's Health Ireland (CHI) has still not received early access to the new national children's hospital despite this phase of the project being due to begin six weeks ago. The €2.2 billion project has been beset by delays and cost overruns, but is due for substantial completion in June. The body overseeing the project – the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) – agreed with contractor BAM Ireland that CHI, which operates paediatric healthcare in the State, could have access to the site from April to mitigate risks of delays to operational commissioning and to complete technical commissioning. However, this access has not yet been granted. It is understood the delay is due to some areas of the hospital not yet being completed to a contractual standard. READ MORE Asked about the delay, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill met the CHI board on April 28th to discuss the transition to the new hospital and 'emphasised the importance of opening the hospital safely and expeditiously'. The Minister also wrote to BAM on April 15th and received a response on May 2nd, the spokeswoman said, in which she received 'confirmation of a mid-summer completion milestone of technical commissioning'. 'The NPHDB and CHI are working to ensure opening can be achieved with minimal further delays. All parties want to see this hospital open as soon as possible,' the spokeswoman said. 'Once substantial completion is achieved the hospital will be handed over to CHI for operational commissioning. This is a complex and critical phase that will involve the installation of more than 36,000 pieces of clinical equipment, integration with the EHR [electronic health records], and the training of over 4,000 staff from the three existing hospitals.' Operational commissioning will take six to nine months, with the first patients not expected to be treated in the hospital until the first quarter of next year. [ Efforts to finalise workforce for national children's hospital continue amid concerns over understaffing Opens in new window ] CHI has been under consistent pressure in recent months, particularly around the provision of orthopaedic care for children. A report published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) into the use of unlicensed metal springs in spinal procedures on three children in Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin found children were 'not protected from the risk of harm'. It is understood a second report on orthopaedic services, around unnecessary hip surgeries, has been completed and will be published shortly. A third report, by orthopaedic consultant Selvadurai Nayagam, is also being carried out. Jim Browne resigned as chairman of the board following the publication of the Hiqa report, with advocacy groups calling for the entire board to be removed. The Minister last week told reporters she would look at the way in which the board is set up 'over the next number of months' but that she needs a board to be in place to 'to keep the hospital on track'.
