A sod-cutting ceremony has marked the beginning of GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership's (GBHP) construction works on a new children's hospital in Belfast.

GBHP has been appointed to deliver the state-of-the-art hospital, on the Royal Hospital's site, which will include 10 floors, 155 beds, 10 theatres, and an emergency department capable of catering for up to 45,000 children per year.

Eighty per cent of the beds will be in single rooms with private ensuite facilities, and each ward will benefit from social and play spaces, with parent facilities and separate staff areas. Construction for the new build is due to last five years.

A representative from GBHP said: "We are honoured to be delivering this joint milestone healthcare project for Northern Ireland.  The new hospital will be a critical facility for future generations and we look forward to collaboration with all stakeholders to bring the Children's Hospital project to life."

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At the ceremony, six year-old Leyton Anderson from Newtownards, who is a patient at the current hospital, joined Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to cut the first sod on the project, alongside some of the Children's Hospital team and contractors GBHP.

Speaking as construction commenced, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: "I am proud to join Children's Hospital staff to mark the start of works on our new world-class hospital.  This is really welcome news for future healthcare provision for Northern Ireland and for the healthcare professionals, children and families that will use the modern facility on completion. 

"Today is a reason to celebrate and I am delighted to share the honour of cutting the first sod with Leyton because our key focus throughout the development of this project has been on delivering improved services and facilities for children and young people."

The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children will continue to provide care for children while the new hospital is being built.  It is the only hospital in Northern Ireland dedicated specifically to the care of children. It provides general hospital care for children living in Belfast and provides most of the paediatric regional specialities (including palliative care) for children throughout Northern Ireland.