Oversight group to 'take control' of late and over-budget Baird Hospital project in Aberdeen

The health secretary has announced an oversight group has been set up to ‘take control’ of recovery and delivery of a hospital project in Aberdeen.

The Baird Family Hospital and Anchor Cancer Centre were due to open in 2020 and cost around £134m.

However, a number of issues with the design and construction has meant the two sites are still to be completed and the budget now exceeds £438m.

At Holyrood on Tuesday, Angela Constance said a National Oversight Board had now been created, led by Scottish Government officials.

Constance said: “This national oversight board has been established to take control of recovery planning and delivery of the Baird and Anchor, and a key focus of this work is to establish a timeline for opening whilst ensuring patient safety is not compromised.”

Earlier this month, NHS Grampian confirmed the project would be further delayed.

It said the Anchor Cancer Centre is now due to open in December instead of next month.

The Baird Family Hospital has been delayed by a further three months from June 2027 to September 2027.

A number of issues remain with the two sites, including the domestic water systems and electrical issues, with the health board warning there could be further delays.

Interim director of infrastructure at NHS Grampian, Jug Johal said: “We’d like to apologise to our patients and staff that they have waited much longer than we would have liked to have these projects completed – but it is important that we ensure they are suitable for decades to come.

“We welcome the appointment of the oversight board and the extra level of assurance it will bring to the projects. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Scottish Government in the coming weeks and months.

“We are currently working with the contractor to resolve remaining issues in order to achieve a KSAR approved status with NHS Assure.

“Once these buildings are open patients from NHS Grampian, and further afield, will have excellent facilities that will serve them for the decades to come.”