Investigation into new maternity hospital 'a clever ruse' not to answer questions

A Northern Ireland health trust has been accused of using an ongoing investigation into the handover of the new maternity hospital as "a clever ruse" not to answer questions over delays, according to DUP assembly member Diane Dodds. Belfast Trust executives appeared at Stormont's health committee to explain the issues the project, which is tens of millions over budget and a decade behind schedule. They said a "management investigation" had begun into the timing and approval of the transfer of the building to the trust in March 2024, despite levels of the bacteria pseudomonas being found in its water system. The building, on the grounds of the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), remains empty. Senior trust officials, Jennifer Welsh and David Porter, faced questions over a catalogue of issues with new buildings, which committee chair Philip McGuigan described as "a scandal". Dodds said she was "angry" that after several years of problems with the maternity hospital, the trust officials had come to the committee "with a clever ruse" of using the investigation into the handover of the facility "to not answer questions". "I think that is inappropriate and disrespectful to this committee," sh