THE LONG-DELAYED £30 million wing at Whittington Hospital in Highgate will be ready in January next year, 18 months behind schedule.
In a detailed report to hospital bosses, building consultancy firm EC Harris, hired to oversee the completion of the new building, has said work will re-start on the troubled project next week.
Work ground to a halt in December last year after original contractor Jarvis ran out of cash.
The firm had won a lucrative private finance initiative (PFI) deal two years ago to build and manage the new wing.
In January, after a series of high-level negotiations, it was announced that investment company Secondary Market Infrastructure Fund was taking over the project.
The hospital trust’s chief executive, David Sloman, has since assured the Whttington Patient and Public Involvement Forum that the number of beds and quality of the building will not be affected, nor will the trust be paying more than originally agreed.
Forum chairwoman Helena Kania said: “I feel reasonably confident the new building will be ready within the new year, and that standards will not slip.
“But the forum will be keeping a close watch on what happens, to make sure the views of patients and local people are taken into account.”
Susan Sorensen, the trust’s director of finance, said: “EC Harris has done a careful review of the work that needs to be done. The new completion date is about what we expected.”
She added: “There are always risks around any building project but there has been a lot of money invested in this and everyone is keen to see a return as soon as possible.”
The new building, which will have an entrance in Magdala Avenue, will house cardiology and chemotherapy wards, replacing ramshackle Victorian buildings.