New Belfast maternity hospital could face a further 28-month delay

The opening of Belfast’s new maternity hospital could be delayed by another 28 months.

Mike Nesbitt told the assembly he couldn’t “soften the news” and has asked for an external expert to review if the decision taken is the best one and if parts of the hospital could be opened in the meantime.

The minister also said that he is “far from finished” on the matter and he also needs to better understand why some experts have disagreed with the option taken by the health trust.

During last Thursday’s health committee, it emerged that the health trust faced three options to try and fix the water system.

These included:

• Ongoing testing of individual water taps across the building.
• Installing a “discreet checking system” for high-risk areas including the neonatal unit.
• Pulling out the entire water system, which was described by management as “excessive”.

The new maternity hospital, which is based in the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, is already 10 years behind schedule and has cost £97m so far.

At present management has chosen the second option which they said was the “safest” way to proceed as vulnerable babies would be protected.

The trust took possession of the five-storey building in March 2024 and began a “clinical commissioning phase” – a process of ensuring a safe transition of service to the new site.

Just a few months later in July, the trust said that during testing of water outlets, high levels of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were discovered in the water system.

Pseudomonas infection killed three babies at Belfast’s Royal Jubilee Hospital in 2012.

The infection does not usually affect healthy people but infants and people with weakened immune systems are vulnerable.

Marie-Louise Connolly, BBC News NI Health Correspondent

This latest development on when Belfast’s new maternity hospital will open is simply incredible.

While the safety of babies and mothers is paramount, it seems that taking a decision about what needs to happen next has again been allowed to drift.

Yet another expert is being called into review and advise on how the trust’s management team plans to resolve the crisis.

And all the while time is ticking with pregnant women, new babies and staff expected to work in less than perfect conditions.