Call for Completion of Children's Hospital

The Noah's Ark Appeal was delighted when Health Minister, Dr Brian Gibbons, announced that the capital funds for the completion of the Children's Hospital for Wales had been set aside. However, almost two years later, not a single brick has been laid and people from all over Wales want to know why.

It was a proud day for Wales when the first phase of the country's only dedicated children's hospital opened its doors on St David's Day 2005.

"Seeing the first patient admitted to phase one of the first Children’s Hospital was a day of mixed emotion; sadness that the patient was a young child but joy that he would receive care in a world-class, child-friendly environment.  It was comforting to know that his mother could stay next to him in pull-down bed, ensuring that she could be rested and remain strong enough to support him," said Lyn Jones, Chairman of Trustees of the Noah's Ark Appeal.

"But I am not alone in asking why the Children’s Hospital hasn’t been completed," said the charity trustee, who began campaigning for the facility over fourteen years ago.

Disagreements about the business case and concerns over funding for the additional revenue costs of the project have brought progress on the building work to a stop even before it has begun. 

The Noah's Ark Appeal, which has raised millions of pounds to build and equip the hospital, is calling for work to start on the parts that are not reliant on revenue funds.

In a bid to to end the stalemate, the Noah’s Ark Appeal has suggested a way forward: phasing the development to enable the revenue-neutral aspects of the scheme to be progressed.   

The adoption of such a strategy would allow a significant proportion of the project to go ahead (approximately £25 million) and would enable work to begin on new theatres, surgical wards and out-patient areas.

"We wait to see whether our proposal will be considered as it appears to be the only way forward.  It seems to be the only solution that will bring a completed children’s hospital to the children of Wales. After all the work the Noah’s Ark Appeal has done and all the support gathered from the communities across Wales, it is time to stop the talking and get on with the action" said Lyn Jones.