Question reference: S5W-31520
- Asked by: Angela Constance, MSP for Almond Valley, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 1 September 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 2 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for opening the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neurosciences.
Answer
I informed Parliament in May that COVID-19 may adversely affect the timeline of Autumn 2020 for fully opening the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. While we understood that there was a risk to this being achieved, we had been waiting on a confirmed project timeline before we moved away from this date.
Nonetheless positive progress has been made.
Outpatient Services at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, including Neurophysiology and Diagnostic Radiology, moved into the new site in May as planned. The final phase of the move for the DCN took place in mid-July, this saw inpatient Neurosurgery and Neurology wards, along with Neurosurgery Theatres and Interventional Neuro-Radiology relocate to their new home. All DCN services are now fully delivered from the new site.
From July, a number of children’s outpatient services moved to the new Hospital. This phased approach saw some Children’s outpatient services, including Neurology and Orthopaedics, migrate along with a number of administrative support staff. This approach, which had been agreed with the full involvement of clinical teams and staff side representatives, not only frees up space at the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children site, but enables NHS Lothian to continue to deliver quality paediatric clinics adhering and supporting social distancing.
We now have a confirmed timeline that work will be completed in full on 25 January 2021.
The work has continued to ensure we deliver a safe hospital and that will remain the priority of this project. We are aware this upcoming move will taking place over winter and expect NHS Lothian to fully support staff throughout this period.