State-of-the-art neurosciences department to open in May but Covid-19 could delay opening of new Sick Kids hospital

Neurology patients will start moving into a state-of-the-art department opening at Little France next month – but Covid-19 could further delay the opening of the new Sick Kids Hospital.
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Work on the new department of clinical neurosciences is now finished and this paves the way for services to start moving there from May 11th, subject to final arrangements with removal companies and suppliers.

The department will house cutting edge facilities for diagnostics and studies of the brain.

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But Susan Goldsmith, NHS Lothian’s director of finance and executive lead for the project, said it is “not yet clear” if the Covid-19 crisis will impact on the timescale to move children’s services to the adjacent new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (Sick Kids Hospital) in the autumn, although this timescale remains the plan.

The opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People was delayed last July.The opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People was delayed last July.
The opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People was delayed last July.

The opening of the new Sick Kids Hospital in July last year was delayed after last-minute checks revealed the ventilation in critical care areas did not meet the required standard.

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NHS Lothian said a phased move to the new department of clinical neurosciences will involve outpatients - including neurophysiology and diagnostic radiology - migrating there along with a number of administrative support staff from May 11th.

However, the move for inpatient services and interventional neuroradiology has been paused to allow clinical neurosciences critical care teams to support the Covid-19 response at the Western General Hospital.

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Ms Goldsmith said the opening of the new department has been achieved due to the “tremendous hard work” of the project team and contractors on site since last autumn.

She added: “It remains our aim to move Children’s Services to the adjacent Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in the autumn, however it is not yet clear if the Covid-19 emergency will impact on this timescale.

“We are conscious that there may be supply chain issues or that the pace of work may be affected by the need for contractors on site to observe safe social distancing measures. Nonetheless work is on track and we continue to work towards the autumn timeline.”