Operating theatre floors at National Children’s Hospital replaced three times

The Department of Health has revealed that multiple operating theatre floors in the National Children’s Hospital have been replaced up to three times because of “poor workmanship and oversight of works” by the builder Bam.

Documents supplied to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) indicate that 14 of the 22 resin floors in the Level 2 “hot block” required repeated replacement, causing ongoing delays to access the area.

The briefing note states that the department continues to monitor Bam’s progress but cannot predict when the hot block will be handed over.

Additional concerns include compliance and certification issues with 244 bathroom pods, which emerged over the summer. Bam has submitted remediation proposals that are now being examined by an independent employer’s representative.

There are currently 2,057 defects recorded in the hospital, with inspections being carried out by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB). The department is conducting 100 % inspections in response to what it describes as “poor quality performance” by Bam.

Bam’s spokesperson rejected the criticism, noting that product specification and approval involve multiple parties, including the NPHDB and its design team, and that the builder remains committed to delivering the hospital safely and promptly for Ireland’s children.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Jan van der Wolf / Pexels.