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Fresh delay for troubled Aberdeen cancer centre

News imageBBC External view of the Anchor Centre in Aberdeen. It is a modern building and has temporary metal fencing around its perimeter.BBC
The Anchor Centre had been scheduled to open in July

An Aberdeen cancer centre originally meant to open in 2020 has been further delayed.

The Anchor Cancer Centre, and Baird Family Hospital maternity facility, were initially expected to cost up to £134m, but that later rose to £438.6m.

Earlier this year, NHS Grampian pushed Anchor's opening back to December from July. That has now been further delayed until May next year.

Baird's planned opening date remains September next year, but both could still face further delays.

The Anchor Centre will bring together services including radiotherapy, oncology, haematology and research.

The Baird Family Hospital will offer maternity and breast-screening services, as well as a neonatal unit and operating theatre.

Project approval was given more than 10 years ago, however building work did not begin until 2021.

Construction at the main Foresterhill campus in Aberdeen has been hit by problems with the design and water and ventilation systems.

In March, BBC Scotland News revealed wall panels and insulation have had to be ripped out due to mould.

Infection control teams sounded the alarm after construction materials were allowed to get wet.

News imageThe hospital is a large, four storey white and grey building, part of the building is blue and extends from the front of the hospital.
The Baird Family Hospital is also years behind schedule

The latest revised timescale was revealed in NHS Grampian board papers ahead of a meeting on Thursday.

The programme change was said to be down to issues such as ensuring water safety.

The update adds: "There remain risks to the planned opening dates for both facilities."

The Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Alexander Burnett, described the news of the fresh delay as "outrageous" as it meant it was now expected to open seven years late.

"Costing more than £300m over budget, this botched project has been a national scandal, making it the most severely delayed hospital opening in recent Scottish history," he said.

"For the sake of cancer patients who deserve this state-of-the-art facility to finally open, health secretary Angela Constance must urgently meet NHS Grampian to address these delays once and for all."

The Scottish government has been approached for comment.