New maternity hospital could be delayed by another 28 months

The opening of Belfast's new maternity hospital could be delayed by another 28 months.

Nike Nesbitt told the assembly he couldn't "soften the news" and has asked for an external expert to review if the decision taken is the best one and if parts of the hospital could be opened in the meantime.

The minister also said that he is "far from finished" on the matter and he also needs to better understand why some experts have disagreed with the option taken by the health trust.

During last Thursday's health committee, it emerged that the health trust faced three options to try and fix the water system which included ongoing testing of individual water taps across the building; installing a "discreet checking system" for high-risk areas including the neonatal unit and finally pulling out the entire water system which was described by management as "excessive".