拢60m Evelina hospital in London, designed by Hopkins Architects, delayed by 鈥榗omplexities of the building鈥�.
The Evelina Children鈥檚 Hospital in south London, designed by Hopkins Architects and being built by MJ Gleeson, will open more than six months鈥� late.
A spokesperson for Guy鈥檚 and St Thomas鈥� NHS Trust said it was originally due to open this summer but would not be ready until next spring. The spokesperson said the delay had been caused by the 鈥渃omplexities of the building鈥�.
A joint statement from MJ Gleeson, Hopkins Architects and Guy鈥檚 and St Thomas鈥� NHS Trust said that after the building had been completed it would take an additional six months to install some equipment, such as the hospital鈥檚 MRI diagnostic scanner.
The statement said: 鈥淭he building is due to open to patients in autumn next year.鈥�
Steve McGuire, director of capital, estates and facilities management, said the trust refused to compromise on any aspect of quality. He said: 鈥淲e are proud that we will deliver the building to cost. We want everything to be absolutely right, which is why we now plan to open a little later than originally planned.鈥�
The statement noted: 鈥淭he hospital will be a landmark building that will allow our staff to provide the very best care for children using our services and their families.鈥�
The seven-storey, glass-fronted hospital will have a four-storey conservatory, which will be enclosed to provide maximum daylight and have have dramatic views of Lambeth place and Archbishop park.
The hospital, which will be naturally ventilated, will also house a gallery and performance space, a cafe and a school.
The Evelina has had a number of high-profile financial backers who joined forces in May to raise more than 拢10m to add to the 拢50m provided by the NHS.
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, part of the Rothschild banking dynasty, and Stanley Fink, who is part of London鈥檚 hedge fund community, are heading a fundraising campaign for the Evelina. They hope to raise the 拢10m by the end of the year.
The Rothschild link to the Evelina dates back to 1869, when Ferdinand de Rothschild donated 拢100,000 to build a children's hospital in memory of his wife, who died in childbirth.
Fink, the chief executive of Man Group, is an ideal fundraiser as he has business links with some of London鈥檚 wealthiest businessmen.
The children鈥檚 hospital 鈥� currently spread across a number of floors in Guy鈥檚 Hospital Tower 鈥� will be the first to be built in London since Great Ormond Street in 1852.
