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| Portakabin hospital ward faces further delay after safety review | Portakabin hospital ward faces further delay after safety review |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| The modular buildings for the new hospital ward were supplied by the firm Portakabin | The modular buildings for the new hospital ward were supplied by the firm Portakabin |
| Health bosses have admitted they still don’t know when a delayed new hospital ward made up of buildings supplied by the firm Portakabin will open. | Health bosses have admitted they still don’t know when a delayed new hospital ward made up of buildings supplied by the firm Portakabin will open. |
| The 30-bed ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for patients getting knee and hip operations was largely finished last year. | The 30-bed ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for patients getting knee and hip operations was largely finished last year. |
| However, a safety review found ventilation, fire safety and flooding problems and the project was halted. | However, a safety review found ventilation, fire safety and flooding problems and the project was halted. |
| A technical solution to these issues has still to be approved and NHS Forth Valley said it can’t say when the ward will open until this happens. | A technical solution to these issues has still to be approved and NHS Forth Valley said it can’t say when the ward will open until this happens. |
| The ward was originally due to open at the hospital in Larbert in 2022 as part of a new National Treatment Centre (NTC) aimed at increasing capacity for operations. | The ward was originally due to open at the hospital in Larbert in 2022 as part of a new National Treatment Centre (NTC) aimed at increasing capacity for operations. |
| But work did not start until 2022 and the project has faced further delays. | But work did not start until 2022 and the project has faced further delays. |
| Last year construction watchdog NHS Assure said it could not support the ward project going forward without changes. | Last year construction watchdog NHS Assure said it could not support the ward project going forward without changes. |
| Its inspectors found two significant and 19 major issues with the project, including a lack of detail within the fire strategy, non-compliance with some NHS guidance and a lack of detail on pre-commissioning checks. | Its inspectors found two significant and 19 major issues with the project, including a lack of detail within the fire strategy, non-compliance with some NHS guidance and a lack of detail on pre-commissioning checks. |
| NHS Assure - set up to monitor the quality, safety and running of health board construction projects - concluded if the issues were not addressed they could "potentially compromise the safety of patients and staff". | NHS Assure - set up to monitor the quality, safety and running of health board construction projects - concluded if the issues were not addressed they could "potentially compromise the safety of patients and staff". |
| Without a satisfactory NHS Assure review, new health facilities are not allowed to open to the public. | Without a satisfactory NHS Assure review, new health facilities are not allowed to open to the public. |
| A computer-generated image of what the new modular ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital will look like when completed | A computer-generated image of what the new modular ward at Forth Valley Royal Hospital will look like when completed |
| Two additional operating theatres, and a MRI scanner to increase surgical and diagnostic capacity, were installed at Forth Valley Royal Hospital as part of the NTC project and are already up and running. | Two additional operating theatres, and a MRI scanner to increase surgical and diagnostic capacity, were installed at Forth Valley Royal Hospital as part of the NTC project and are already up and running. |
| A spokeswoman for NHS Forth Valley said: "Over the last few months, work has been undertaken with the contractor and NHS Assure to address the remaining outstanding technical issues relating to the pipework and fire compliance regulations. | A spokeswoman for NHS Forth Valley said: "Over the last few months, work has been undertaken with the contractor and NHS Assure to address the remaining outstanding technical issues relating to the pipework and fire compliance regulations. |
| "A potential solution has been submitted to building control for review and we are currently awaiting feedback. | "A potential solution has been submitted to building control for review and we are currently awaiting feedback. |
| "Once a solution has been approved and agreed by all parties, a detailed workplan will be developed to take forward the required changes along with a timetable for the completion of this work." | |
| NHS Forth Valley said the project's capital costs remain within the original estimated budget of around £10m. | NHS Forth Valley said the project's capital costs remain within the original estimated budget of around £10m. |