Royal Hospital for Children and Young People explained

Royal Hospital for Children and Young People
Org/Group:NHS Lothian
Location:50 Little France Crescent
Region:Edinburgh
State:Scotland
Country:UK
Healthcare:NHS Scotland
Type:Teaching
Affiliation:University of Edinburgh Medical School[1]
Emergency:Yes
Helipad:Yes
Beds:167
Speciality:Paediatric
Map Type:Scotland Edinburgh
Coordinates:55.9214°N -3.1376°W

The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People is a hospital that specialises in paediatric healthcare based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The hospital replaced the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (the Sick Kids) in Sciennes. It forms part of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh campus in the Edinburgh BioQuarter at Little France. The facility provides care for children and young people from birth to around 16 years of age and is managed by NHS Lothian.

History

In 2005, NHS Lothian decided to develop plans to move the Sick Kids from its present site to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France on the south-east edge of the city. A business case for the project was approved by the Scottish Government in January 2012.[2] The hospital was procured under the Scottish government's non-profit distributing model in 2015.[3]

The design was carried out by HLM Architects,[4] and the construction, which is being carried out by Brookfield Multiplex at a cost of £150 million, began in February 2015.[5]

In August 2016, it was announced the project would be delayed[6] because of adverse weather conditions and two of the project's builders entering administration.[7] In May 2017, it was announced the new hospital would be called Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.[8]

After further initial delays, it was announced that the Children's Emergency Department would transfer to the new site on 9 July 2019 and that between 5 July and 15 July, multiple children's services including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services will also move.[9] However, two weeks prior to the scheduled opening, a fault in the air conditioning system in part of the hospital and, subsequently, faults with the drainage system were found; it would cost an estimated £90 million to fix these faults.[10] [11]

The hospital was officially opened on 23 March 2021.[12]

Services

The new building at Little France, which will have 233 beds,[13] will treat patients up to the age of 16.[14] It will also accommodate the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, which will move across from the Western General Hospital, and the Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), which will move from the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.[15]

Transport

The hospital is accessible by public transport via local bus services[16] and there are several car parks on site.[16] Close proximity parking is available to pre-book, for those with a clinical need.[16] There are 112 disabled parking spaces on site.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Child Life and Health. The University of Edinburgh.
  2. Web site: Outline Business Case - Re-provision of RHSC and DCN at Little France . NHS Lothian . January 2012 . 9 June 2014 .
  3. News: New Edinburgh children's hospital plans unveiled . . 6 March 2014 . 13 July 2014.
  4. Web site: New Sick Kids takes step closer to reality . . edinburghnews.scotsman.com . 14 May 2014 . 5 January 2017.
  5. News: Edinburgh's £150m new Sick Kids hospital delayed by six months. . heraldscotland.com . 21 August 2016 . 14 May 2017.
  6. News: New Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh delayed. . bbc.co.uk/news . 22 August 2016 . 14 May 2017.
  7. News: Delays hit £150m Sick Kids project. . edinburghnews.scotsman.com . 21 August 2016 . 14 May 2017.
  8. News: New Edinburgh’s Sick Kids hospital changes 150-year-old name. . scotsman.com . 1 May 2017 . 13 May 2017.
  9. News: Edinburgh's new children’s hospital to open in six weeks . 8 July 2019 . Building Better Healthcare . 28 May 2019.
  10. News: Edinburgh Children's Hospital will cost a further £90m . 14 August 2019 . BBC . 6 August 2019.
  11. Web site: Moncur . James . Public inquiry into Edinburgh’s Sick Kids’ Hospital 'must deliver answers' . Daily Record . 31 August 2020 . 1 August 2020.
  12. News: Edinburgh Sick Kids: The unusable hospital that is finally open . 24 March 2021 . BBC . 23 March 2021.
  13. Web site: RHSC + DCN - Little France . NHS Lothian. 15 July 2014.
  14. News: A new name for Edinburgh’s new Children’s hospital. . nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk . 1 May 2017 . 13 May 2017.
  15. News: New Edinburgh Sick Children's building gets go ahead . BBC News . 19 September 2012 . 11 September 2014.
  16. Web site: The RHCYP Travel and Transport . . 26 March 2021.