Question reference: S5W-29994
- Asked by: Angela Constance, MSP for Almond Valley, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 16 June 2020
-
Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 17 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the ongoing work at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neuroscience.
Answer
Following the significant progress of the Programme Director, Project Team, contractors and the staff of NHS Lothian, we are now in a position to continue the phased moves to the new hospital.
From July, a number of children’s outpatient services will move to the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People at the same time as remaining services from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences complete their move.
This phased move will see some Children’s outpatient services, including Neurology and Orthopaedics migrate, along with a number of administrative support staff. The plan, which has been agreed with the full involvement of clinical teams and staff side representatives, will not only help to free up space at the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children site, but will enable NHS Lothian to continue to deliver quality paediatric clinics adhering and supporting social distancing.
The final phase of the move of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences will also take place in mid-July. This will see inpatient Neurosurgery and Neurology wards, along with Neurosurgery Theatres and Interventional Neuro-Radiology relocated to their new home.
I informed Parliament in May that COVID-19 may adversely affect the timeline of the project. We now know that COVID-19 is impacting on supply chains and the pace of work, as contractors need to observe safe physical distancing, but at present the work is progressing on track and the original timeline remains.