Almost half of the operating theatres in the new children’s hospital could need remedial work, according to documents seen by RTÉ News.
Contractors at the hospital site were ordered to stop work on the ceilings of 11 operating theatres last month and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board has said that they are yet to know if design changes or further work will be needed.
RTÉ has now confirmed that a review is underway and reflects the ongoing changes of design but said it is standard due to the scale of the National Children’s Hospital.
Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane, revealed to the broadcaster that the party has information that indicates this work to amend the operating theatres could cost tens of millions.
He also noted that this could lead to significant delays in the hospital’s completion which could be extended beyond March next year.
According to the documents seen by RTÉ, there is a need for possible modifications on the ceilings and to electrical and mechanical services.
The issue is expected to be raised in the Dáil later today.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Cullinane said that the issues he is aware of are related to the ventilation system.
He said that “the information I’ve been given is that there is a major generic fault in 11 of the operating theatres, which has an impact on the air ventilation systems.”
He then added that the “board knew about this last May. That an external company was brought in to look at the ventilation system and warned that there was difficulties and problems. The board knew about it in May of last year”.
Cullinane also said that “it took 12 months for the board to act, to stop the works and to establish what they’re now saying as workshops to look at the extent of the works needed to be done.
“The source that I spoke to again this morning, and this is somebody at the heart of this project, tells me that this is very, very serious.
“That it will add potentially tens of millions to the cost of the children’s hospital, but also could take up to 12 months to complete the changes because what we’re talking about here in terms of the operating theatres are obviously very, very sensitive theatres, they involve in the ceilings, gas pipes, oxygen pipes, live sprinkler system, electrical pipes.”
