Union chief warns £150m Edinburgh Sick Kids hospital may have to be “ripped down” due to fatal safety flaws
A NEW £150million children’s hospital may have to be “ripped down” before it opens over fatal safety flaws, a union chief warned.
Unison’s Tam Waterson claimed drainage and ventilation issues could lead to Edinburgh’s Sick Kids being bulldozed.
And he slammed Health Secretary Jeane Freeman over the mounting crisis after the facility’s launch was delayed indefinitely.
Mr Waterson said: “We know the drainage is not fit for purpose. It’s been flooded twice with nobody in it.
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“There’s a school of thought they might have to rip it down.”
He claimed the Scottish Government would have been “fully aware” of the problem three years ago and slated Ms Freeman, given the health brief in June 2018.
He stormed: “It was one of the First Minister’s biggest mistakes appointing her.”
The hospital at Little France was originally expected to open in 2012.
But its latest planned launch last month was axed after 11th-hour checks highlighted ventilation trouble in the critical care department.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said the “buck stops” with Ms Freeman and demanded a public inquiry.
She added: “That the new Edinburgh Sick Kids could be ripped down before it even opens is unthinkable.”
Tory Miles Briggs called it “a complete farce”. But NHS Lothian’s Prof Alex McMahon pledged a “priority” review.
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We told how private consortium IHSL will be paid £432million over 25 years for building and maintenance.
A spokesman for the group said: “We’ll provide whatever assistance is required.”
The Scottish Government said it knew of no risk the hospital could be flattened.
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