To ask the Minister of Health whether a final decision has been made in relation to remedial works to address the contamination issues in the water treatment system at the new Maternity Hospital.

Mr Nesbitt (The Minister of Health)

The Belfast Trust recently completed the multidisciplinary review of the options for the remediation works required to address the water safety issues in the new maternity hospital at the Royal Victoria site. The review has been in the form of multidisciplinary risk assessment workshops held in April and May. The intent was to determine the route forward for the building and the level of remediation works required to give assurance of safety. A recommendation on the option to be implemented was discussed and accepted at trust board level on 5 June. The trust provided the Department with a briefing document only last Thursday. It outlines the proposed remediation works to be implemented, and it includes a programme for the remedial works and estimated costs for same. My officials and I are reviewing the document. I have already met the trust's director of strategic development to try to satisfy myself that everything possible is being undertaken by the trust to allow the maternity facility to become operational as soon as possible while ensuring patient safety. There are a number of issues with the report and proposed way forward on which my officials and I have tasked the trust to come forward with further information. I can understand why there is a genuine desire from the Committee to receive the report, and, once the next steps are determined — hopefully that will be very soon — I assure members that the document will be shared and officials made available to brief the Committee as required. The Belfast Trust has assured me that the safety of patients remains its highest priority in addressing the water safety issues in the new hospital. I support that position. In that regard, I can advise that the trust has confirmed that it will establish a robust flushing, management and testing regime for the water systems during and after the remediation works. The management of the regime to ensure patient safety will need to be closely monitored by a dedicated trust project water safety group.

Mr Nesbitt

First, no decision has been endorsed by me. There were three options, and I know that the trust is going for option b. That appears to have a timeline — I am sorry to say this — of 28 months. That is another two years and a bit and several million pounds. As I said, I have met the relevant official. I have not accepted this. I cannot gild this lily; I cannot soften this. None of the three options can be guaranteed to solve the problem. The third option is to rip out all the water works and start again, and that will take even longer. I have asked that we find an external expert because, when the multidisciplinary team looked at the three options, the majority went for option b or 2 but not everybody. Therefore, I would like an external view about whether option b or 2 is the right one, whether it really should take 28 months and whether there are parts of the hospital that we can start using while we fix the water. The area of real danger, as you know, is the neonatal unit, where the most vulnerable children are. I also feel that I need to better understand from those who were against option b why that was the case. I am far from finished on this. There is nothing good to say, except that it is a magnificent facility that is not in use.

Mrs Dodds

I must say that everyone in the Chamber shares your frustration, Minister. You say that it will be another 28 months, and it is already 15 months since the handover of that building, so we share your frustration. I will turn your attention to another issue relating to the Belfast Trust, Minister. Can you explain to the House how significant the fire safety concerns are that the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has about the Royal Victoria Hospital? When was the trust first advised of the concerns? Is the Fire and Rescue Service pursuing an enforcement notice in relation to this?

Mr Nesbitt

As the Member said, this is a different issue. A fire safety audit was carried out at the Royal Victoria Hospital on 4 June by personnel from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service under the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The audit found a substantial risk at wards 4 and 7, with a score rating that falls within the enforcement notice category. A follow-up meeting took place on 11 June to assist the Belfast Trust in making the necessary improvements. Another meeting is arranged for this afternoon. I appreciate the pragmatic approach that the Fire and Rescue Service takes to working with responsible persons at audited premises to mitigate risk. In this case, the Fire and Rescue Service inspection officers continue to work with Belfast Trust officials. However, I accept the point that it does nothing to restore public and political confidence in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Mr Chambers

Minister, are you satisfied that works are progressing well with the neighbouring capital project on the Royal site, which is the new children's hospital?

Mr Nesbitt

I am satisfied with the verbal assurance that I got as recently as yesterday that work is progressing on the children's hospital on time and to budget. That said, we are in the foothills of a long building works campaign. I am happy to report that the Falls Road has not collapsed, and I do not say that flippantly. Work has to be carried out in the first instance to ensure that the road is shored up, and that appears to have been done successfully.

Mrs Dillon

A Cheann Comhairle,

I apologise for not being in my place yesterday. I thought that my question had been withdrawn. Minister, will the cost of the works at the new maternity hospital be borne by the public purse, or will it be possible to get the money back from the contractor in any way? If you do not know, when will we know?

Mr Nesbitt

I understand that the Member is curious about that, as, indeed, am I. As I understand it, the trust is still trying to figure out exactly what has gone wrong with the pipework. We know that there was pseudomonas bacteria in the pipework. That was the main issue, but, since then, I understand that some valves that have seals are, perhaps, defective. There is now a question about where that responsibility lies. The matter is commercially sensitive. I do not want to not be open and transparent, but I do not want to say anything in the Chamber that might prejudice anything that, the Belfast Trust feels, it needs to do in liaising with the contractors.