A six-year-old patient from the current children’s hospital has joined the Health Minister to mark the official start of construction on the new facility.
The Belfast Trust marked the official start of construction works at the Royal Hospital site today, after years of delays.
Leyton Anderson (6) from Newtownards, joined Mike Nesbitt to cut the first sod on the project, alongside some of the Children’s Hospital team and contractors GBHP.
The new hospital was originally planned to open in July 2020 at a cost of £223 million.
However, the project has been beset by delays and costs have risen.
Last month it was confirmed that there is a five-year construction timetable now in place, with the hospital projected to open at the beginning of the next decade.
The new facility will have 10 floors, 155 beds, 10 theatres, and an emergency department capable of catering for up to 45,000 children per year.
Eighty per cent of the beds will be in single rooms with private ensuite facilities, and each ward will benefit from social and play spaces, with parent facilities and separate staff areas.
The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, where Leyton is currently a patient, will continue to provide care for children while the new hospital is being built.
It is the only hospital in Northern Ireland dedicated specifically to the care of children. It provides general hospital care for children living in Belfast and provides most of the paediatric regional specialities (including palliative care) for children throughout Northern Ireland.
Speaking as construction commenced, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “I am proud to join Children’s Hospital staff to mark the start of works on our new world-class hospital.
“This is really welcome news for future healthcare provision for Northern Ireland and for the healthcare professionals, children and families that will use the modern facility on completion.
“Today is a reason to celebrate and I am delighted to share the honour of cutting the first sod with Leyton because our key focus throughout the development of this project has been on delivering improved services and facilities for children and young people.”
Six year old Leyton Anderson meets Health Minister Mike Nesbitt as Children’s Hospital staff mark the start of construction work on the new children’s hospital.
He added: “Last week I visited Dublin’s new children’s hospital, which is finally close to completion, and saw first-hand the world-class facilities it will provide.
“I want children and families from across NI having access to equally world- class facilities. That is why this development starting today is so important.”
Children’s Hospital’s Director Paula Cahalan said “This is an exciting day for all of us in Children’s Hospital and for families across Northern Ireland.
“We have really outgrown the facilities on the current site, so a new modern, technologically capable building will allow our dedicated teams to deliver excellent and innovative clinical care to future generations.”
A representative from the appointed contractor GBHP said: “We are honoured to be delivering this joint milestone healthcare project for Northern Ireland.
“The new hospital will be a critical facility for future generations and we look forward to collaboration with all stakeholders to bring the Children’s Hospital project to life.”