New Cambridge hospital opening delayed over cladding concerns

The opening of a new hospital in Cambridge has been delayed because of concerns over some of the insultation materials used in the new building.

The Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Trust announced yesterday (27 June) that next month’s planned handover by its construction partner Skanska of its new hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus will be delayed to allow remedial work to be carried out on the cladding systems on the ground floor of the building.

According to a statement issued by the hospital, Skanska recently informed the Trust that they have used insultation materials that do not meet its original requirements in the lower part of the new building.

As a result, the hospital’s board of directors has taken the decision not to accept handover of the building until Skanska has completed remedial work in accordance with the Trust’s original requirements.

According to the NHS Trust, the hospital is currently awaiting confirmation from Skanska with regards to how long this remedial work will take, but early indications suggest it will take a number of months.

“We are extremely disappointed that we will not be able to open our new hospital in September as planned,” said Trust Chief Executive Stephen Posey.

“Our staff have been working extremely hard to prepare for the move, and it is incredibly frustrating to discover a problem with the building at this late stage. However, we must ensure that our new building meets our original requirements.

“We do not underestimate the impact that this news will have on our staff. Providing clear information and support to them will be a priority for us over the coming weeks. In the months ahead, we will continue to focus on providing high quality services to our patients on our current site. We remain committed to the vision of the new hospital and the benefits it will bring to our staff and patients for many years to come.”

A spokesman for Skanska said: “We remain in discussions with the Trust on this matter and we are working towards a resolution in order for the hospital to open as soon as possible. We share the Trust’s aim to uphold the highest standards for patients and staff.”

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