Aberdeen hospital project due to open in 2020 faces further delay

A new maternity hospital in Aberdeen that was due to open in 2020 has been delayed further.

Last year, NHS Grampian said the Baird Family Hospital was set to open seven years later than originally planned.

It was due to start receiving patients in June 2027, but this has now been pushed back to September.

Meanwhile, the Anchor Cancer Centre, which was scheduled to open this July, has now been pushed back to December.

The total cost to build the hospital and cancer centre is expected to exceed £483.6m, while it was first slated to cost £134m.

The health board said the delay in opening the cancer centre is largely due to a project board decision in March to add a secondary sterilisation unit to strengthen and protect the water system.

A report, released on Monday, said the project is currently at a “critical stage”, with delivery dependent on resolving technical, assurance and commercial matters.

Whistleblower’s concerns about new hospital were ‘downplayed’, report finds

In documents, seen by STV News, an investigation found a key process in the design of the new project was not carried out, leading to concerns over infection risks, redesigns and rising costs.

It found that a system known as HAI Scribe (Healthcare Associated Infection System for Controlling Risk in the Built Environment) wasn’t properly completed during the design of the Baird and Anchor.

It found if it had, it would have addressed issues around ventilation and water systems – problems that have caused lengthy delays to the project.

It also found that in the early years of the project, concerns were raised but “were consistently downplayed, and there remains individuals who continue to minimise infection prevention risks”.

It also said it would have reduced overall costs – the hospitals are now more than three times over budget.

The investigation found: “The additional costs created by non-compliant design and the associated remediation are obvious and not disputed by any party.”

A range of other concerns were also raised but were not upheld.

NHS Grampian chief executive, Laura Skaife-Knight said in March: “I’d like to thank this member of staff for speaking up and raising their concerns. I appreciate this is not an easy thing to do and I want to recognise their bravery in taking this step.”

Ms Skaife-Knight said the health board wanted to create a culture where staff felt safe to speak up and believe their actions would lead to positive changes.

NHS Grampian welcomed the conclusions and recommendations of the independent third-party investigation.

“I have personally met the whistleblower to thank them for speaking up and to commit to making the improvements that are needed, including when it comes to improving our organisational culture and listening to and acting on staff feedback,” said Ms Skaife-Knight.

“I have agreed to personally lead and take this work forward.

“We remain focused on learning and improving and from this colleagues’ experience and we will share this both locally and internally as well as nationally via Scottish Government so that NHS Scotland can benefit when it comes to future capital projects.

“I’d like to apologise to the public and our staff that these buildings have taken longer to complete than we’d have liked. It is vital that we make sure these new facilities are suitable for our patients and staff for the future generations for decades to come.

“Ongoing physical alterations have been informed by ongoing national Infection Prevention and Control work and lessons learned from the ongoing Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.

“We shared an update at our February 2026 public Board meeting in the spirit of openness and transparency and will continue to ensure regular progress updates are published.”