HEALTH Secretary Jeane Freeman has rejected calls for a public inquiry into delays at Edinburgh’s new specialist children’s hospital, saying more detail about when the new facility may open could become clear next week.
The Scottish LibDems challenged Freeman to hold a full inquiry into the “fiasco” at the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, after the opening of the flagship new building was delayed just days before it was due to start treating patients.
The hospital was expected to open its doors in July but the Health Secretary decided to intervene and overruled NHS Lothian to delay the process.
She acted after final checks revealed the critical care department’s ventilation system did not meet national standards.
She told MSPs that two reports she commissioned – including one by KPMG – should be published on September 11.
LibDem health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton challenged her on the issue as MSPs returned to the Scottish Parliament after the summer break.
“The opening of this flagship hospital was cancelled 100 hours before patients were due to arrive and we still don’t know when it will open,” he said.
Meanwhile, NHS Lothian is handing over about £1.4 million a month to private consortium Integrated Health Solutions Lothian (IHSL) for the facility while children are still being treated in the existing hospital building – with Cole-Hamilton describing this as “well past its sell-by date”.
He stated: “Serious questions are once again being asked about this Government’s ability to deliver major capital projects.
“Will the Health Secretary today instruct a full public inquiry into this fiasco?”
Freeman rejected the LibDem’s proposal, saying: “No, I will not at this point.”
She continued: “I have commissioned two reports, they are on track to be published next week, as Mr Cole-Hamilton well knows, and I will make a statement to Parliament at that point.”
The Health Secretary went on to say that when the reports are published, she would be able to answer more “detailed questions, including giving a clear timeline of when we expect the move to the new site”.
She added: “In all of that my driving interest is patient safety.”
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