Work on the new £335 million Royal Liverpool University Hospital has been delayed by nearly one year, it has been revealed.

In a response to a written question from West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper, Health Minister Philip Dunne revealed a number of problems encountered by contractor Carillion meant the hand over date of the building is now set for the end of February 2018, instead of the scheduled March 2017 date.

He said: "The reasons for delays to the construction timetable have been the discovery of asbestos; issues with using cranes in high winds; a delay in completing a new electrical connection and more recently, the discovery of cracks in some of the concrete beams, for which all remedial work has now been carried out.

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"Clearly, this delay in delivering a new flagship hospital for the people of Liverpool is disappointing. However, we must emphasise that the costs associated with the problems to the new building have to be met by the building contractor and do not fall on the National Health Service. The Trust does not make any payment until the new hospital is finished and is available for use."

Following the handover of the hospital, three months of clinical commissioning and the relocation of services will take place, before patients are ready to be submitted.

(LM/CD)