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Budget set to delay new hospital Budget delays new £360m hospital
(about 16 hours later)
The building of a new women and children's hospital at Belfast's Royal Hospitals site may be further delayed, the BBC has learned. A £360m women and children's hospital promised for Belfast could face further delays, the health minister has said.
In 2000 the Jubilee Maternity Unit at the City Hospital was knocked down and its births transferred to the Royal. About 5,000 women are using the Royal Maternity Hospital every year. Many say it is no longer fit for the purpose.
A new women and children's hospital for the Royal was promised. It has had to cope with demand that soared when the City's Jubilee maternity unit was closed in 2000.
Now the amount of money planned for health in the next few years is being blamed for affecting short term targets and long term proposals like the unit. The new women and children's hospital was promised at that stage. But the health minister said budget restraints meant the project could be put on hold.
It is estimated that it will cost more than £360m. On Sunday's Politics Show, Michael McGimpsey said: "This health budget has still to be resolved.
"It is in draft form and if it is resolved around the figures we're at now, I think the likelihood is that it (the new hospital) will go further down the line."
It took to March 2007 for the Royal to come up with a business case for the new hospital, which has required changes and is to be re-submitted in the new year.It took to March 2007 for the Royal to come up with a business case for the new hospital, which has required changes and is to be re-submitted in the new year.
On Sunday's Politics Show, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said the project is likely to be further delayed.
"This health budget has still to be resolved it is in draft form if it resolved around the figures we're at now yes I think the likelihood is that it will go further down the line," he said.
Until the new unit is built, more than 5,000 women every year will give birth in a hospital which many say is no longer fit for purpose.