Why is the national children’s hospital back in the news?

Late last month, the main contractor on the national children’s hospital project, BAM, was told to stop work on the ceilings of 11 operating theatres – half the total planned for the facility. The potential issue relates to the layout of ventilation systems in the theatre. It was also told this month to engage in a process to establish the extent of remedial works that might be needed.

What is the potential issue?

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald read from two reports in the Dáil on Tuesday commissioned from consultants working on the ventilation system on behalf of Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) which runs children’s healthcare nationally – the first one in May of last year, and the second elaborating on concerns raised then, and delivered to CHI in November.

In the second report the consultants argued that the issues identified “are not snagging lists but rather indicative of the major generic faults” and added that the firm was disappointed with progress made between the reports. It warned that “the longer that these issues take to get resolved, the more expensive and time consuming it will become”, before elaborating: “If the present approach to the installation of the ventilation systems serving the critical areas in this hospital is not corrected, the systems will fail the final validation and not be fit to be taken into use.”

What are the consequences of that?

It depends who you ask. Sinn Féin’s health spokesman, David Cullinane, says a source close to the project has told him they could cost €50 million or more, and take months to address.

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BAM has kept quiet, refusing to answer questions on its view of how much it could all cost. The company has, however, moved to dismiss questions over whether it was the source for the claim made by Sinn Féin, saying it has “not engaged with any third parties on any of these matters”.

And what do the other side say?

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) disputes Cullinane’s claim: there is a gulf between the two positions, with the board saying the issues are relatively minor and will not cost tens of millions, or have an impact on the completion date of the hospital. A spokeswoman said on Tuesday that BAM had now been instructed to continue with the work in line with the current design, and has said the “potential issue will be addressed at the appropriate time”.

What is the board basing that on?

On Monday night, the NPHDB said it was to be determined if additional works were required in the theatres, and that BAM had been instructed to engage with the design team and others to review the impact if there was one.

On Tuesday, it went further and said workshops under this process were “ongoing” but that “initial findings would indicate” works, if they’re decided on, could be undertaken in parallel with other construction and wouldn’t impact substantial completion or hospital opening.

It also said it issued an order to BAM to resume work in line with the original design on June 15th, effectively countermanding its order in May. But the board made reference to neither the second, countermanding instruction, nor the initial findings suggesting the work could be managed with little fallout, when first approached on Monday.

Do we know if concerns raised by the consultants have been addressed?

The board says it and its design team are aware of the reports, which were written as part of a due diligence process. After the reports were written, the board say the design team undertook specialist computer modelling and then physical testing on site to investigate further. One test, which the board says is a standard test, was successful. A second one to observe air distribution in the theatre was undertaken and the board said “the outcome of this test is yet to be agreed between STS and the design team”. No final testing has been undertaken. BAM has been told to look at the impact of moving grilles linked to the ventilation system in the theatres.

What does all this boil down to?

Like everything to do with the children’s hospital, the problem is a fusion of time, money and politics. If it transpires that the issue can be rectified to the satisfaction of all parties with little outlay and no impact on the timeline, then it will be seen as a ball of smoke. But if anything casts doubt on the NPHDB’s verdict that the works are minor, it will breathe fresh life into the controversy. In the meantime, Sinn Féin will continue to demand full answers on the extent of the problem, as well as heaping on the pressure over why it seems to have taken months to put a plan in place.

The NCH has become a byword for State mismanagement of taxpayers’ money, while citizens wait impatiently for the delivery of the facility. Anything that impedes the latter, while burning through more of the former, will be harshly judged.