The construction of the New Hospital North Zealand (Nyt Hospital Nordsjælland) is facing further setbacks, with the budget expected to increase by another billion kroner and the move-in date postponed by six months.

The Business Committee in Region Hovedstaden will be briefed on these developments next week. This marks yet another instance of budget increases for the hospital project, which is now approaching a total cost of nine billion kroner.

Lars Gaardhøj, Regional Council Chairman in Hovedstaden, expressed his frustration with the ongoing cost overruns and delays, stating that patients and staff will have to wait longer to utilize the new facility.

The region attributes the rising costs to price increases in the construction market and escalating wages. The construction of large facilities for Novo Nordisk and Fujifilm in the same area has reportedly contributed to the upward pressure on wages.

The hospital construction, originally slated for completion in 2020, has been repeatedly delayed.

In 2020, the Ministry of Health and Elderly Affairs placed the project under increased supervision. The State Auditors also criticized the project in November 2023, noting repeated budget expansions from the initial financial framework of 5.3 billion kroner.

The New Hospital North Zealand is one of sixteen ongoing “super hospital” projects in Denmark, encompassing both expansions of existing facilities and entirely new constructions.

Six of these super hospital projects, including Bispebjerg, Odense, Hvidovre, Aalborg, Køge, and Nordsjælland, are not yet finished and are anticipated to be completed by 2026-2027.

The initial budget for all sixteen projects, adopted in 2009, was 41 billion kroner, but has since been exceeded by billions due to various factors.