Derry health hub not targeted for completion until 2031 – but department issues ‘affordability' warning

REVEALED |
Work on a cityside health hub in Londonderry will not commence until 2028 at the earliest — 10 years after the project was first put on a 'capital priorities' list by officials.
The timeline of completion by 2031 was outlined in a Freedom of Information (FoI) response, however the Department of Health has caveated this by saying the project's substantial cost means 'affordability will be a key issue'.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Record

7 hours ago

• Daily Record

Demands for cops to investigate deaths of hundreds of babies across Scotland

Campaigners are concerned about the number of newborns dying in maternity units and have called for urgent action. Police are facing demands to investigate the deaths of hundreds of babies across Scotland. The Sunday Mail has learned campaigners reported concerns about the number of newborns dying in maternity units and have called for urgent action. But Police Scotland insists it has 'noted' the concerns, but has so far refused to open a formal investigation. ‌ It comes as forces in England are currently probing the deaths of hundreds of babies at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust after a review found catastrophic failings. Scottish campaign group ASAP-NHS, led by former Crown prosecutor for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Roger Livermore, contacted Police Scotland in February over their concerns about baby death rates in Scotland. ‌ Recent figures show about 500 babies have died since 2019, with health boards paying compensation in 131 cases of baby death or injury. The total compensation bill in the last five years is more than £74million with about a third of that being paid out by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Livermore said: 'We have been very concerned about the large number of babies dying unnecessarily and unlawfully all over Scotland. We have reported them to the police and Lord Advocate but no effective action has been taken. 'There are major problems in maternity services across all parts of the UK. Current scandals in England are being investigated by the police. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain has held a very small number of fatal accident inquiries on the situation at individual health boards. This is not sufficient. 'Overarching law requires that deaths must be handled and investigated by a person and body independent of government – not a member of it. In the rest of the UK this is the HM Coroner system.' ‌ Livermore said he was concerned that Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the NHS watchdog in Scotland, had never carried out maternity unit inspections before this year. He said that reviews into serious incidents which have resulted in death or harm to patients, known as serious adverse event reviews, are also not being routinely published. He said: 'Frontline staff such as midwives are aware of the problems and have already raised concerns about the situation across the country. The internal reports, when they are forced out of NHS boards under Freedom of Information, show that the same problems are endlessly repeated. Lessons are not learnt. The public are totally kept in the dark.' As previously reported by the Sunday Mail, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was rapped by health watchdogs after it emerged hundreds of serious adverse event reviews had not been carried out, years after the incidents had happened. ‌ The health board recorded more than 1000 'Category 1 significant adverse events' that may have contributed to or resulted in permanent harm or death of patients in the last five years. Police Scotland said that it had received the report but was not planning on taking any action. The force said: 'There is no police investigation into baby deaths at Scottish maternity units.' Between January and October last year, 262 incidents were recorded with just 14 reviews completed at all, and just one within the 90-day timescale. In 2017, NHS Ayrshire and Arran was criticised over the 'unnecessary' deaths of six babies at Crosshouse hospital, with staff shortages affecting patient care. In 2018, Freya Murphy died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after medics failed to notice she was being starved of oxygen during delivery. An FAI found staffing levels were an issue.

Glasgow Times

a day ago

• Glasgow Times

Concerns over number of HMO licenses being issued in Glasgow

Mel Feild, who has been working with other locals to prevent the development of further purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in the West End, has raised concerns about the number of HMOs (house in multiple occupation) granted in the area. An FOI request revealed that of the 248 Hillhead HMO licences in the Hillhead ward, 119 were new licenses approved since 2021 that have not been granted previously. Since 2021, a further 116 new HMO licences have been granted as a result of the change of owner, four new HMOs were agreed as the result of missing the renewal date and nine new licences were approved as a result of an issue with title deeds. Ms Feild claims that these numbers 'contravene' the council's own City Development Plan (CDP) and 'erode the fabric of a coveted conservation area.' She said: 'The reason I submitted the FOI request was because I wanted to understand the city development plan for 2017 which states no more HMOs are going to be approved in Hillhead because we already have too many. 'The FOI revealed there are 248 licenses in Hillhead overall but that there have been 119 new HMO licences approved since 2021 which I take issue with. READ MORE: Council facing huge repair bill after leaving 'justice centre' in state of disrepair 'Now the issue is what is the council going to do about it. When I saw those numbers, I was shocked as were members of the Hillhead community council.' A report by a member of the Hillhead Community Council, which represents voices from around the Hillhead area, highlights some of the issues residents face living when somewhere with a high concentration of students. It states that the density of HMOs within buildings and the density of student accommodation towers affect the short and long-term health of residents living and working in this city. These include adult workers such as local nurses, doctors, teachers and shopkeepers who are vital to the area and this city for its long-term sustainability. Health issues due to noise, disturbance where people have reported ceiling collapsing due to parties, and the comings and goings of short-term residence, can lead to insomnia, increased blood pressure, stress, digestive issues as well as depression and anxiety. Many residents and owner occupiers in Hillhead and surrounding areas feel that they are being disregarded and treated like second-class citizens due to the density of HMOs and the student accommodation blocks. People now feel they are getting pushed out of their homes and are moving elsewhere. READ MORE: Taxi firm owner 'deeply embarrassed' after shouting and swearing at council meeting Mel added: 'There is a document of issues that have emerged as a result of the number of HMOs in the area including issues around health and welfare, environmental through litter and bulk items that are dumped all over the place and the economic impact as students don't generate council tax or profit for these properties. 'People feel like second-class citizens due to the density of HMOs and these student accommodation blocks. It is a point where the council needs to stop granting HMO licences which take away from residential amenity. 'No more means no more. What is the point of licensing if you are just going to hand out licenses like lollies to anyone who asks for one? 'I think there are two angles here. There is a longer-term strategy of figuring out how the council legislation needs to work so that planning and licensing are linked so there is no messing around to get straight to a licence without having to do planning first. 'The council needs to stop issuing NET new licenses. There needs to be an inquiry on how to prevent this and allow the longer term strategy to catch up.' Hillhead Community Council will now ask the council to hold an enquiry into the number of HMO licenses approved and for a moratorium on NET NEW HMO licenses to be put in place until an enquiry is concluded. Glasgow City Council says each HMO licence is considered under the Housing (Scotland) Act with the purpose to protect public safety. READ MORE: Council rejects plans for huge 1000-home development with pub and park A spokesman said: 'Applications for an HMO licence are considered in terms of section 130 and 131 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. 'Each application is always assessed on its own merits. 'If both the property and the owners or their agents are deemed to be suitable in terms of the relevant legislation, there is no basis to refuse a licence. 'Local representatives are consulted on every HMO application in their area and notices are displayed next to any property that is subject of an application. 'Members of the public and community councils can make representations about HMO applications and these must be considered. 'Planning permission is only required where a property requires to be sufficiently changed to become suitable for use as an HMO. 'The purpose of any licensing scheme, including HMOs, is to protect public safety.'

Daily Mirror

3 days ago

• Daily Mirror

MoD accused of 'delaying tactics' over hidden Nuked Blood records

Hidden records about the Nuked Blood scandal are due to be released, but the Ministry of Defence is refusing to answer questions about the contents Evidence of human radiation experiments by the British government is being withheld from campaigners, despite orders from ministers that it should be released. The Mirror's Freedom of Information requests to publish details about the medical monitoring of troops during nuclear weapons tests have been rejected, ignored, and refused. ‌ Even MPs in Parliament have been denied answers, despite a criminal complaint and pending £5bn lawsuit. Veterans believe it is a "delaying tactic" by officials to deny accountability for as long as possible. ‌ Alan Owen of campaign group LABRATS said: "Veterans have always known the game plan is delay, deny, until they die. We have proved they hold evidence of these experiments, we have forced them to publish some of it, and even when the minister has instructed them to publish the rest they are fighting a rearguard action to keep a lid on it for as long as possible. "There is no good reason for it and we are asking the Defence Secretary to intervene." * You can support the veterans' legal fight HERE More than 28,000 records relating to the risks of radiation injury are known to be hidden on a database, codenamed Merlin, at the Atomic Weapons Establishment. It is locked as a state secret, on the grounds of national security. More than 150 of files were published last year after Parliamentary pressure. They contained thousands of pages of evidence about blood testing of British and Commonwealth troops before, during and after they were exposed to radiation at Cold War bomb tests. The Mirror requested a complete list of all the document titles last December, but the AWE refused to comply on the grounds that "the AWE does not hold a record list of the document titles and dates". Yet all computer databases include an internal structure with a list of file names. ‌ The Mirror requested an internal review which is supposed to be completed within 40 working days. The request was ignored for two months, and in May the AWE said: "An investigation is being carried out, but the response is taking longer than anticipated." Six weeks later, campaigning Tory MP Sir John Hayes has asked Veterans Minister Al Carns to produce the list and place it in the Library of Parliament. Mr Carns said: "Officials are working at pace to formally transfer the records on the Merlin database to the National Archives, while ensuring that sensitive information is protected... Once transferred, the records will be listed and accessible on TNA's website." There is no deadline for Merlin to be published, and it is expected to take months to check every document and redact personal data. After they are released, archivists will have to catalogue and tag an estimated 750,000 pages of information before they can be made available online. Only 10% of the veterans, who have an average age of 87, still survive. The MoD was contacted for comment.