Carillion collapse causes further delay to hospital completion

The completion of the £335m Royal Liverpool Hospital has been delayed until 2019 by the collapse of Carillion.

Although the hospital’s opening in March last year has suffered a raft of delays as a result of the discovery of asbestos on the site, the folding of the construction giant with debts of about £1.5bn has compounded matters.

The hospital trust’s chief executive Aidan Kehoe said on the BBC yesterday (Tuesday, February 6) that opening the 646-bed site in 2018 would be “challenging”.

Louise Ellman MP, whose Riverside constituency includes the Royal, has said in the House of Commons: “I looked round the hospital on Friday – it is very impressive and about 90% complete.

“But when will it be finished and when will it open?

“I am told that the ‘Hospital Company’, the PFI company set up to build the hospital, can appoint a contractor to complete the job and that the costs will be met from insurance. But when? And when a contractor is appointed, will the current employees be taken on? I want answers!”

Ellman has also called for a public inquiry into Carillion’s collapse. She added: “I appreciate that this is a private sector collapse but there are major questions for the Government and regulatory bodies to answer. This is about public services.”

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