Two health trust buildings in Belfast are facing additional costs approaching £20 million due to newly discovered issues. The Belfast maternity hospital could incur nearly £10 million in extra expenses, while repairs and patient rehousing at the Acute Mental Health facility have already cost £9.4 million.
The new maternity hospital, located on the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) site, is already significantly over budget and delayed. These new costs will push the project's total expenditure beyond £100 million. The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.
Problems at the maternity hospital reportedly stem from a chemical flushing process intended to address an earlier issue with bacteria in the water system. This flushing has damaged pipework, necessitating the replacement of over 2,200 valves. An estimated £7.8 million repair bill, potentially rising to nearly £10 million with 24-hour contractor work, is anticipated. Work to replace the valves is currently underway.
The facility was handed over to the Belfast Trust in March 2024, but has remained closed due to the discovery of pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria in the water system and other problems. An investigation into the building's handover and subsequent water system issues is expected to be reported this month.
The Belfast Trust has not disclosed whether repair costs will be covered by contractors or taxpayers, stating that it and its legal representatives are engaged with independent experts on liability matters.
Reports indicate that thousands of valves are being replaced due to "accelerated deterioration" caused by the chemical flushing. Accessing these concealed valves requires removing substantial sections of the ceiling. Engineers warn that repair costs could increase further, and current estimates do not include professional fees.
Belfast Trust stated that current repair cost estimates are around £7 million, but the final project cost remains uncertain and subject to inflation. The timeline for occupying parts of the new building by March 2027 and the neonatal unit by November 2027 is contingent on the success of the repair program. The trust emphasized that the safety of mothers and babies is its top priority, and care for women and babies continues at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital without service impact.
Graham Construction, part of the joint contractors GBHP, stated that the hospital was handed over in accordance with contractual obligations and that all pre-handover water quality samples were confirmed to be free of pseudomonas aeruginosa, independently verified. GBHP has had no involvement in the hospital's management, operation, or maintenance since the handover.
The £33 million Acute Mental Health facility at Belfast City Hospital, opened in 2019, has also experienced issues, leading to patient relocation. The repair bill for this facility is £6 million, with an additional £3.4 million spent on preparing wards at the Knockbracken Healthcare site for patient rehousing. Patients are not expected to return to the Acute Mental Health facility until February 2029.