The opening of the new £165 million Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire has been delayed after combustible materials were discovered within the building's cladding.

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus facility was scheduled to be handed over by Skanska to Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in July.

However, investigations in recent weeks by the contractor and an independent tester have found insulation materials used in the lower part of the hospital building that do not meet the Trust's original requirements.

A Trust spokesperson said: "As an NHS Trust, we have a duty to uphold the highest safety standards for our patients and staff. As a result, Royal Papworth Hospital's Board of Directors has taken the decision not to accept handover of the building until Skanska has completed remedial work in accordance with the Trust's original requirements. This will cause a delay to the opening of the hospital.

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"The hospital is currently awaiting confirmation from Skanska with regards to how long this remedial work will take, but early indications suggest it will take a number of months."

Stephen Posey, Chief Executive at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are extremely disappointed that we will not be able to open our new hospital in September as planned. Our staff have been working extremely hard to prepare for the move, and it is incredibly frustrating to discover a problem with the building at this late stage. However, we must ensure that our new building meets our original requirements.

"We do not underestimate the impact that this news will have on our staff. Providing clear information and support to them will be a priority for us over the coming weeks. In the months ahead, we will continue to focus on providing high quality services to our patients on our current site. We remain committed to the vision of the new hospital and the benefits it will bring to our staff and patients for many years to come."

(LM/MH)