Great Ormond Street Hospital

HC Deb 08 November 1982 vol 31 cc47-9W

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now able to give any assurance that there will be no bed closures at Great Ormond Street in consequence of the hospital's financial deficit; what further steps he is taking; and whether these will involve the future of Tadworth Court as well as Great Ormond Street; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We have found £100,000 additional revenue for the hospitals for sick children from within the Department's budget. This will enable the board of governors to defer bed closures until we have been able to consider the overall financial position of these hospitals and the future pattern of their services.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in respect of the cardiac block at Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children, what was the date when it was decided to seek the views of consultants as to how the block was unsafe; why it was unsafe and who was responsible; what was the original estimated date for receipt of the consultant's report and the actual date of receipt; what subsequent technical inquiries have been made into the future of the block; what was the original estimated price of building the block and the actual price; what is the current estimated cost of consultants' fees on reviewing the safety and future of the block; and what is the current estimated cost of remedial work.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

A structural engineer was first appointed to give a second opinion on the collapse of a walkway beam at HSC on 12 September 1980. As his investigations proceeded they revealed ever more faults in both the design and construction of the building. On 24 April 1981 he was accordingly commissioned to carry out a comprehensive investigation. His report—in 16 volumes—was received on 7 January 1982. It catalogued very serious faults in all the structural components of the building. No deadline had been given to the structural engineer for the completion of this report. The nature of the work did not allow it. I am satisfied that the investigation was carried out as rapidly as possible.

Since January 1982 a new architect has been appointed, and he, together with the engineer and other members of the new design team, has been preparing detailed proposals for the remedial works and a firm cost estimate. I have of course asked for this work to be carried out as quickly as possible.

The original contract sum for building the block was £3,099,000—December 1976 cost level. The final account figure was £4,280,000. The current estimated cost of remedial works is approximately £8 million but a more precise estimate is expected by the end of the month. The current estimated cost of consultants' fees for investigating the defects and proposing remedial work is £850,000.

The responsibility for the faults in the building is certain to be contested and will probably need to be settled by the courts. It would therefore be prejudicial for me to answer this part of the question.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in respect of the cardiac block at Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children, whether he estimates that the cardiac equipment originally bought for use in the block will still be up-to-date by the time the remedial works on the building have been completed; what would be the estimated cost of installing new up-to-date cardiac equipment once the block is safe for use; when remedial works are to start; and how long they will take.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The starting date for remedial works cannot yet be fixed, and it is expected they will take at least two years to complete. A total of £1,841,711 has been spent on equipment, and arrangements are being made to bring into use or to transfer as much of this equipment as possible in the intervening period. It is not possible to estimate at this stage what the replacement needs might be when the new block is commissioned.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in respect of the cardiac block at Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children, whether the fire protection on the steelwork has been found to conform to the building regulations; whether the concrete cover on each floor is sufficient for such a building; how many new piles will be needed to make the building secure; and whether he is satisfied that the concrete does not contain materials which will rot it.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The fire protection cover to the steel reinforcement does not conform to the building regulations. In places it is inadequate on both floors and internal columns. Approximately 300 new piles will be needed. The concrete does not contain materials that will rot it, but it is showing signs of excessive carbonation and this will require treatment.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South's letter of 7 September about delays in repairing the cardiac block at Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State wrote to the hon. Member on 5 November.

Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when it was decided to build the cardiac block at Great Ormond Street hospital for sick children; what was the original commencement date for building the block and the original estimated completion date; what were the actual dates of commencement and completion; and what was the date on which use was first made of the block, the date on which it was discovered to be unsafe and the date it was evacuated.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The board of the HSC was authorised to procure a new cardiac block in 1972. Construction began in June 1977 with an estimated completion date of December 1979. The building was completed in July 1980 and equipping and commissioning then started. A walkway beam collapsed on 29 July 1980.

The building has never been fully occupied by either patients or staff but one of the clinical investigation suites was used from time to time between 15 May and 12 June 1981. By that date the faults had been found to be sufficiently serious to make its occupation unwise except by the professional staff carrying out the investigation.