NHS trust frets covid-19 will delay former Carillion hospital job even further

The Liverpool hospital delayed by Carillion's collapse two years ago is at risk of being put further behind schedule by the covid-19 pandemic.

In papers published ahead of this week's meeting of the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS trust, concerns that the coronavirus crisis could have ancimpact on Laing O'Rourke's programme to complete the hospital were raised. 

The board papers said: "The committee received an update on the two programmes of work for the build, including the clinical sciences services building and the main building.

"It was noted that the full impact of the covid-19 pandemic was not yet known and could have implications for the timeline for both programmes of work."

The Royal Liverpool Hospital job, which Carillion won in 2013, was originally meant to open in 2017. 

Carillion revised this date to February 2018 but in December 2017 told the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust that it bust the revised the deadline. The firm went into liquidation in January 2018.

Last December it was confirmed that the hospital would not open until 2022 at the earliest.

Last month, O'Rourke completed work on a specialist covid unit at the same hospital. It has space for 65 patients and will help patients recover from covid-19 and other conditions. It has been built in what will become the Acute Medical Unit for the new Royal.