Public Sector : Healthcare News
Planning submitted for Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease

Planning submitted for Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease

Corstorphine & Wright has submitted plans for the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds (Yorkshire, UK) run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The planning application follows extensive stakeholder engagement sessions to create a building that meets the vision of all those involved, including clinical

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Topping out ceremony for Daphne Steele Building at NHIC development

Topping out ceremony for Daphne Steele Building at NHIC development

Construction of the University of Huddersfield’s new National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC) has celebrated a key milestone with a topping out ceremony held at the Daphne Steele Building. This first building on the Southgate site, close to the main university campus, is named after the UK’s first black matron. Daphne

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New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor,

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New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor,

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New radiotherapy facility complete and open in Leicester

New radiotherapy facility complete and open in Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor,

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Pick Everard Completes Refurbishment of Major Trauma Ward at London Hospital

Pick Everard Completes Refurbishment of Major Trauma Ward at London Hospital

PATIENTS and staff on a London hospital ward are now benefitting from more efficient facilities following a completed refurbishment project by multi-disciplinary consultancy, Pick Everard.  The major trauma ward at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Tooting, has undergone operational and spatial improvements, including upgraded sanitary facilities, bedhead services and infrastructure elements

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Latest Issue
Issue 327 : Apr 2025

Public Sector : Healthcare News

Planning submitted for Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease

Planning submitted for Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease

Corstorphine & Wright has submitted plans for the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds (Yorkshire, UK) run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The planning application follows extensive stakeholder engagement sessions to create a building that meets the vision of all those involved, including clinical staff, patients, and the wider MND community, as well as the Burrow family.  The centre has been funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, through its Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease appeal which has now raised over £5.3 million of its £6.8 million target. It will be a hub of innovation, education and excellence in the treatment for MND for the region, bringing together holistic patient-centred care in a purpose-built environment.  The brand-new centre will see all MND services housed under one roof for the first time, in an accessible location conscious of the needs of those who visit. Supporting all aspects of the patient’s journey, the centre will create comfortable and peaceful surroundings for patients and their families, including spaces to reflect after sensitive conversations as well as places to engage and create positive moments. The proposed building is arranged in three joined forms – an East and West Wing which house the primary clinical spaces, connected via a central atrium. This central space has been designed as a community focussed area with a mix of accommodation from reading and quiet spaces, as well as activity and dining areas. It will be a place for family members to use and will enable staff to observe patients in a more informal setting.  The first floor is designated as a staff area with a dedicated wellbeing space to provide staff working in the building with space away from the clinical areas – an important consideration when providing care to patients with such a challenging condition. Externally, the building has presence, but still fulfills the requirements for a centre that feels like home. It takes references from the local vernacular in the form of red brick tiles and gabled roofs, providing texture to clean architectural forms. Internally, natural materials will blend throughout the spaces, adding further texture and helping to support the wellbeing of patients and staff using the building.  The new centre will make the most of the existing landscape features including mature trees and will provide landscaped gardens with access routes through zones with a mixture of textural planting which patients can engage with. It will also provide spaces for other therapy activities to take place as well as a memorial wall for private moments with projecting roof forms acting as a transitional zone for those entering and exiting the building. Targeting a sustainability rating of BREEAM “Excellent” the centre will also be built with a vision for the future, able to adapt to new innovations and treatments for MND patients as they emerge.   Architect and Associate Director at Corstorphine & Wright, Toby Ingle, said: “As well as being adaptable for the future, one of the main visions of the new MND centre is to create a space for the MND community to come together to support one another, and this will remain at the heart of what it does. Engaging with what the community wants the new centre to be has fundamentally informed how we have designed the new building, from its location on the site and the materials we will build it from, to the furniture that we will specify and the colours and textures we will weave throughout the building and landscape. The Corstorphine & Wright team is honoured to be able to deliver this building for Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds Hospitals Charity and for the MND community, and the submission of the planning application marks a positive and exciting step forward in seeing it come to fruition.” Craige Richardson, Director for Estates and Facilities, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said:“Following extensive stakeholder engagement sessions, we are very pleased that the planning application for the new Motor Neurone Disease centre has been submitted to Leeds City Council. We hope our vision for this exemplary facility will be supported, having already received so much community backing. Once we move past this point, the landscape really starts to take shape, and we anticipate a rapid succession of activity over the next few months.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Topping out ceremony for Daphne Steele Building at NHIC development

Topping out ceremony for Daphne Steele Building at NHIC development

Construction of the University of Huddersfield’s new National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC) has celebrated a key milestone with a topping out ceremony held at the Daphne Steele Building. This first building on the Southgate site, close to the main university campus, is named after the UK’s first black matron. Daphne Steele emigrated to the UK from Guyana in the 1940s and the ceremony was attended by her son, Robert Steele, who unveiled a plaque watched by members of the Steele family.  The building named in Daphne’s honour is the first of the exciting project that will help to improve health outcomes and lead innovation in healthcare for the North of England. It will bring together public-facing facilities including award-winning student-led clinics, and be a focus for entrepreneurial academic activity, serving the regional and wider health economy in strong public-private partnerships. Specialist clinical teaching facilities will provide unparalleled support for workforce development. The ceremony was attended by University of Huddersfield Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan CBE and guests included James Wimpenny, Executive Director of construction partners BAM Construction, Anthony Langen, Managing Director of architects AHR and Russell Green, Project Manager of construction consultants Gleeds. Completion of the Daphne Steele Building, which also received a grant of £5.8m in capital funding from the Office For Students, is expected in September 2024. “The scale of the thing is massive and everything I have heard about the innovative facilities plus the benefits to students and the wider community are fantastic,” declared Robert Steele. “What would Daphne have made of all this? I think she would have been stunned, blown away and surprised that this is part of her legacy.” “We were truly honoured when we were allowed to name this new building after Daphne, so I was absolutely delighted that Robert, along with members of her family and friends, joined us for the topping out ceremony,” said Professor Cryan. “Daphne’s ethos of care and compassion allied to expertise is something that we hope everyone who studies and works in this facility will take with them. We are relishing the prospect of this building being fully operational later this year.” James Wimpenny, Executive Director – Construction, at BAM, said: “This milestone marks not only the highest point of the build but also the culmination of the collaborative efforts of the client, design, and construction teams. “At BAM we are passionate about building inspiring spaces that empower learning and enrich the University experience, and that is exactly what we are delivering here at the University’s new National Health Innovation Campus.” Plans for more construction on the site adjacent to the Daphne Steele Building are well under way, with a reserved planning application for the second NHIC building having been submitted late in 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, works involved a significant extension to the existing Radiotherapy department in Leicester Royal’s Osborne Building to deliver a secure treatment facility as part of the improved health care provision for local people in the region. The £3.5m scheme commenced in the summer of 2022 and completed in August this year, with construction comprising two blocks – a radiotherapy bunker, control room and plant room, and an ancillary accommodation block, both of which connect to the existing Osborne Building via link corridors. The treatment area incorporates high security controls to prevent unauthorised access and provide a safe environment. A specialist force protection engineering consultant was appointed to review the structural design of the room and the building was also reviewed by the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA), to ensure compliance. As part of the new building’s green credentials, 32 PV panels were installed on the roof to provide power to the facility, alongside air source heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling through the building, generating fewer carbon emissions. To safely deliver construction works within the fully operational hospital site, a site-specific traffic management plan was implemented to minimise disruption and provide safe access and egress to local residents, hospital visitors and staff. A full-time logistics manager was appointed onsite to assist with the running of the car park, deliveries and to maintain a safe environment. A web-based system was utilised to plan and monitor materials deliveries in order to avoid congestion on the surrounding road networks of the busy hospital site. Social value was incorporated into the project with the site team instigating several initiatives including over 20 hours of litter picking which took place in the surrounding area to improve the environment and help make for a better experience for hospital visitors. A local supply chain was utilised on site which resulted in 77% of local labour being sourced within a 40-mile radius and 94% of all construction waste was recycled locally. As part of G F Tomlinson’s other social value commitments, the contractor provided work experience for a local student studying at a nearby college to provide them with practical experience on site.  Six apprentices were also allocated to the site for a combined total of 113 weeks. During their time at the radiotherapy facility, they had the opportunity to monitor the programme and plan works on site, manage quality assurance, supervise health and safety, and assist with the traffic management within the car park, as well as attending colleges and universities on day release programmes. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It was an honour to be part of the extension and improvement of the current facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, to ensure that patients are getting the very best treatment and care possible. “We have extensive experience working in a live hospital environment and we implemented special measures during construction to ensure that the site always remained safe and accessible to patients and staff, working closely with the hospital team in achieving this. “We are very pleased that the client is happy with the quality of the build and that the enhanced, secure facility is in operation and open to the public.” Dr. Jenny Marsden, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facility which meets the requirements of various external agencies to allow us to perform our work. It provides a lovely environment for patients and staff alike. The team are looking forward to welcoming patients and giving cancer care in a bespoke environment which meets their needs. We are also very keen to develop our service in the future, which is now possible as we have space for clinical development and improvement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

New radiotherapy facility now complete and open in Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, works involved a significant extension to the existing Radiotherapy department in Leicester Royal’s Osborne Building to deliver a secure treatment facility as part of the improved health care provision for local people in the region. The £3.5m scheme commenced in the summer of 2022 and completed in August this year, with construction comprising two blocks – a radiotherapy bunker, control room and plant room, and an ancillary accommodation block, both of which connect to the existing Osborne Building via link corridors. The treatment area incorporates high security controls to prevent unauthorised access and provide a safe environment. A specialist force protection engineering consultant was appointed to review the structural design of the room and the building was also reviewed by the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA), to ensure compliance. As part of the new building’s green credentials, 32 PV panels were installed on the roof to provide power to the facility, alongside air source heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling through the building, generating fewer carbon emissions. To safely deliver construction works within the fully operational hospital site, a site-specific traffic management plan was implemented to minimise disruption and provide safe access and egress to local residents, hospital visitors and staff. A full-time logistics manager was appointed onsite to assist with the running of the car park, deliveries and to maintain a safe environment. A web-based system was utilised to plan and monitor materials deliveries in order to avoid congestion on the surrounding road networks of the busy hospital site. Social value was incorporated into the project with the site team instigating several initiatives including over 20 hours of litter picking which took place in the surrounding area to improve the environment and help make for a better experience for hospital visitors. A local supply chain was utilised on site which resulted in 77% of local labour being sourced within a 40-mile radius and 94% of all construction waste was recycled locally. As part of G F Tomlinson’s other social value commitments, the contractor provided work experience for a local student studying at a nearby college to provide them with practical experience on site.  Six apprentices were also allocated to the site for a combined total of 113 weeks. During their time at the radiotherapy facility, they had the opportunity to monitor the programme and plan works on site, manage quality assurance, supervise health and safety, and assist with the traffic management within the car park, as well as attending colleges and universities on day release programmes. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It was an honour to be part of the extension and improvement of the current [..] facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, to ensure that patients are getting the very best treatment and care possible. “We have extensive experience working in a live hospital environment and we implemented special measures during construction to ensure that the site always remained safe and accessible to patients and staff, working closely with the hospital team in achieving this. “We are very pleased that the client is happy with the quality of the build and that the enhanced, secure facility is in operation and open to the public.” Dr. Jenny Marsden, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facility which meets the requirements of various external agencies to allow us to perform our work. It provides a lovely environment for patients and staff alike. The team are looking forward to welcoming patients and giving cancer care in a bespoke environment which meets their needs. We are also very keen to develop our service in the future, which is now possible as we have space for clinical development and improvement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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New radiotherapy facility complete and open in Leicester

New radiotherapy facility complete and open in Leicester

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, works involved a significant extension to the existing Radiotherapy department in Leicester Royal’s Osborne Building to deliver a secure treatment facility as part of the improved health care provision for local people in the region. The £3.5m scheme commenced in the summer of 2022 and completed in August this year, with construction comprising two blocks – a radiotherapy bunker, control room and plant room, and an ancillary accommodation block, both of which connect to the existing Osborne Building via link corridors. The treatment area incorporates high security controls to prevent unauthorised access and provide a safe environment. A specialist force protection engineering consultant was appointed to review the structural design of the room and the building was also reviewed by the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA), to ensure compliance. As part of the new building’s green credentials, 32 PV panels were installed on the roof to provide power to the facility, alongside air source heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling through the building, generating fewer carbon emissions. To safely deliver construction works within the fully operational hospital site, a site-specific traffic management plan was implemented to minimise disruption and provide safe access and egress to local residents, hospital visitors and staff. A full-time logistics manager was appointed onsite to assist with the running of the car park, deliveries and to maintain a safe environment. A web-based system was utilised to plan and monitor materials deliveries in order to avoid congestion on the surrounding road networks of the busy hospital site. Social value was incorporated into the project with the site team instigating several initiatives including over 20 hours of litter picking which took place in the surrounding area to improve the environment and help make for a better experience for hospital visitors. A local supply chain was utilised on site which resulted in 77% of local labour being sourced within a 40-mile radius and 94% of all construction waste was recycled locally. As part of G F Tomlinson’s other social value commitments, the contractor provided work experience for a local student studying at a nearby college to provide them with practical experience on site. Six apprentices were also allocated to the site for a combined total of 113 weeks. During their time at the radiotherapy facility, they had the opportunity to monitor the programme and plan works on site, manage quality assurance, supervise health and safety, and assist with the traffic management within the car park, as well as attending colleges and universities on day release programmes. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It was an honour to be part of the extension and improvement of the current [..] facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, to ensure that patients are getting the very best treatment and care possible. “We have extensive experience working in a live hospital environment and we implemented special measures during construction to ensure that the site always remained safe and accessible to patients and staff, working closely with the hospital team in achieving this. “We are very pleased that the client is happy with the quality of the build and that the enhanced, secure facility is in operation and open to the public.” Dr. Jenny Marsden, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facility which meets the requirements of various external agencies to allow us to perform our work. It provides a lovely environment for patients and staff alike. The team are looking forward to welcoming patients and giving cancer care in a bespoke environment which meets their needs. We are also very keen to develop our service in the future, which is now possible as we have space for clinical development and improvement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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New £105.9m mental health unit is the first in the country to be all-electric

New £105.9m mental health unit is the first in the country to be all-electric

North View, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH)’s new state-of-the-art mental health unit currently under construction in North Manchester, will be the first all-electric mental health unit in the country when it opens its doors in 2024.   This major step forward will support NHS England’s national agenda to deliver a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service, by reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and decarbonising the healthcare estate.   GMMH is investing £105.9 million in modern facilities with the construction of the new adult mental health inpatient unit to replace Park House, the current mental health unit on the North Manchester General Hospital site.   Work on North View started in August 2022 with the new unit anticipated to be built and operational by 2024.   Once completed, the upgrade will see improvements to patient experience, with spacious single bedrooms, each with a private en-suite shower room, as well as a variety of indoor activity areas, meeting rooms for family visiting, multiple gardens, spaces for therapeutic artwork and a café.   It will house a purpose-built Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), eight adult acute wards and a treatment suite. The building has been specifically designed to minimise its environmental impact, through renewable energy sources, innovative technology and sustainable materials to optimise energy efficiency. It will include the following:   Marc Reed, Associate Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) said:“We are incredibly proud to say that North View will be the first all-electric mental health unit in the country.Sustainability and the environment is a huge national agenda, and is something we have been striving to support through the delivery of this project, which can have a significant impact on the health of our communities. It’s extremely important that we do all we can to support this through the design, build and future operation of our new mental health unit for North Manchester.“Through renewable energy, innovative technology and sustainable materials, we will be able to manage and optimise energy usage and significantly reduce our carbon footprint; whilst maintaining a comfortable, therapeutic environment for our patients, visitors and staff.” This new development is part of an exciting vision for North Manchester General Hospital to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years.   GMMH is working with its Principal Supply Chain Partner, Integrated Health Projects (the alliance between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine) to deliver the project.   GMMH recently shared drone footage of North View under construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Pick Everard Completes Refurbishment of Major Trauma Ward at London Hospital

Pick Everard Completes Refurbishment of Major Trauma Ward at London Hospital

PATIENTS and staff on a London hospital ward are now benefitting from more efficient facilities following a completed refurbishment project by multi-disciplinary consultancy, Pick Everard.  The major trauma ward at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Tooting, has undergone operational and spatial improvements, including upgraded sanitary facilities, bedhead services and infrastructure elements such as power and ventilation.  Pick Everard completed full RIBA Stage 1-6 delivery covering architecture, structural engineering, design management, health and safety services (CDM) and clerk of works.   John Clarke, director at Pick Everard, said: “While the ward itself was isolated and completely shut down during the works, this project took place within a live hospital site requiring a high level of competence and care.  “I believe much of the success can be put down to the collaborative approach between our in-house departments, which provided an effective, coordinated solution for the client. We were able to realise their design aspirations within the practical constraints of an existing building, project budget and demanding programme.”   St George’s is one of the UK’s leading teaching hospitals and is the largest provider of acute healthcare services in southwest London. It has one of the busiest emergency departments in the country and operates several major trauma wards, which were constructed in the 1980s.  The major trauma ward’s new design altered the existing arrangement to reduce overcrowding and bring it in line with current regulations. There are now four multi-bed bays containing 18 beds and four single rooms with ensuites, and two assisted showers. Clinical compliance spaces including a new treatment room and dirty/clean utility rooms were added, and the staff room and kitchen space were also improved with lockers for private storage.  A new air handling unit (AHU) and UPS / IPS plant also needed to be installed on the ward’s roof. This demanded careful coordination, as the existing roof contained a helipad and all associated services within a helipad cabin. To mitigate any conflicts with the operation of the helipad, the Pick Everard team conducted various design option studies and risk analyses on potential plant locations. This involved extensive consultations with the building’s incumbent specialist suppliers and contractors to minimise disruption and mitigate risks during the construction phase.    “While we have extensive experience in the healthcare sector, this was our first project with this particular NHS Trust,” John added.   “It was attained through the £1.6bn NHS Shared Business Services Framework that Pick Everard was recently re-appointed to. Originally, we were brought in for a feasibility study, but this became a full Stage 1-6 delivery – a great achievement for the team and reflective of our understanding and reputation in this sector.”  Due to the high number of stakeholders and end users within the project, consultation and engagement was a priority throughout. Pick Everard arranged regular meetings and workshops to ensure the end results would be compliant with the health building notes (HBN) and health technical memoranda (HTM) criteria, with all design proposals scrutinised by the client’s technical advisers.  A representative of the trust stated, said: “From the outset, the team at Pick Everard understood fully the needs of this refurbishment. They worked hard to understand the best way to deliver this effectively and within the difficult constraints of a live site, with deadlines and budgets considered. The result has been a fantastic overhaul of the Holdsworth ward that is now back up and running, and already we can see the difference in day-to-day operations, benefitting not only our patients but our staff also.”   For more information on Pick Everard and its services, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Planners give new Dorset County Hospital Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit the green light

Planners give new Dorset County Hospital Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit the green light

Plans to develop the Dorset County Hospital (DCH) site, including building a brand-new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, have been given the green light by local planners. The Unit has been designed by global design practice BDP and will be built by contractor Tilbury Douglas. The Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Your Future Hospital programme sets out plans to expand facilities on the site in Dorchester and help meet increasing demand. These include building a new Emergency Department (ED) and Critical Care Unit (CrCU) on the site of the former Damers First School, as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. It will include a rooftop helipad, purpose-built spaces for both major and minor injuries and conditions, a mental health facility, a dedicated emergency paediatrics area, 24 critical care beds, and an ambulance arrivals and fast assessment area. The Trust submitted its reserved matters application to Dorset Council over the summer after receiving outlining planning permission in January. Now that these have now been approved, DCH has full planning permission to build the new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit. Matthew Bryant, Chief Executive of Dorset County Hospital, said: “This is a significant milestone for Dorset County Hospital and brings us a step closer to building our new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. “This development is very important for the population of Dorset and will deliver much larger, state-of-the-art facilities for patients most in need of life-saving care. “It will improve care for patients and help us attract and retain staff who want to provide high quality specialist healthcare in modern facilities. It’s a very exciting time for us at DCH and we’re delighted that Dorset Council has approved the plans.” Subject to full business case approval by the Government, main construction work on the new ED and CrCU is due to begin in 2024. Nick Durham, Architect Director at BDP, designers of the new unit said: “The design of these new specialist facilities is based on creating flexible spaces that can adapt to changing patterns of demand, supporting a model of care focused on reducing pressure on these services. We have undertaken an inclusive and engaging consultation process with staff and wider stakeholders drawing on technologies such as virtual reality to ensure the design proposals are an accurate representation of their needs. Today’s news is an important move towards delivering improved, efficient, and effective emergency and critical care for people across Dorset.” Paul Gale, Divisional Director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “Achieving the green light from the planners is a really exciting moment, not only for the local community, but the project teams whose dedicated work has secured this lifechanging resource. “Our teams are geared up for the next stages of construction and we’re looking forward to moving ahead with enabling works and the main New Hospital Programme scheme on site.” The former Damers School building was demolished over the summer and groundworks to prepare the site for development will begin in October. More information about the scheme can be found at www.dchft.nhs.uk/nhp-scheme The planning application also includes the Trust’s longer-term aspirations to improve the hospital’s main entrance, provide integrated care and key worker housing for staff. Read more at www.dchft.nhs.uk/your-future-hospital.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Green light for £105m Nottingham University Hospital National Rehabilitation Centre

Green light for £105m Nottingham University Hospital National Rehabilitation Centre

FUNDING for Nottingham University Hospital’s new National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) has been granted government approval for its £105million plans.   This approval means work can be completed for the 70-bed purpose-built and highly energy efficient facility, which aims to combine patient care with research, innovation, and training for NHS staff across the nation. Leading multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancy EDGE has been appointed to the scheme to provide project management and NEC supervision services.   The new building will be part of the government’s New Hospital Programme with its primary objective to act as a National Rehabilitation Centre of excellence to transform how people recover and regain fitness following serious injury or illness. It will be carbon net zero and built on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate, sitting alongside the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, which opened in 2018.   Joanne Hardwicke, project manager and associate director at EDGE said: “Having worked closely with the Trust, it’s fantastic news that the funding has been granted for the NRC. It’s a much-needed facility that will enable better outcomes for people who have been seriously injured or experience debilitating illness, allowing the NHS to widen access to rehabilitation services and improve patient outcomes.   “We’re very much looking forward to continuing our work with the wider project delivery team, and knowing it will benefit the lives of many means we’re incredibly proud to play our part in making it a reality. We will continue working collaboratively on the project and monitor the stages throughout, and can’t wait to see the facility come to fruition.”  EDGE bring extensive health and social care experience which includes the ongoing development and delivery of key NHS funded capital investments including the New Hospital Programme, RAAC programme, Dormitory Eradication Programme and sub-regional Clinical Diagnostic facilities.  This experience will be central to facilitating the delivery of the NRC which has been purpose-designed around the patients it will treat, including specialist clinical and technical spaces.  Natalie Forrest, senior responsible officer for New Hospital Programme at the Department of Health and Social care, said: “This marks a highly significant and exciting day for investment into our New Hospital Programme and for the creation of a UK first facility of its type – a National Rehabilitation Centre. The benefits to NHS patients will be substantial and life changing.  “This is the latest of our New Hospital Programme schemes to get under way as part of the biggest hospital building programme in a generation, providing more effective and efficient facilities that will help transform the way care is delivered.”  EDGE’s extensive portfolio also includes the Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s new Urgent and Emergency Care Department, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS current £110m Dormitory Eradication programme and the Northern Care Alliance’s new surgical ward block at Royal Oldham Hospital. EDGE has subsequently been shortlisted for Consultancy of the Year at the 2023 IHEEM Healthcare Awards.  For more information on EDGE and its services, follow the link below: https://www.edgeps.co.uk/  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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NVDC Architects oversees design and completion of new Edinburgh private hospital

NVDC Architects oversees design and completion of new Edinburgh private hospital

A state-of-the-art independent private hospital specialising in cosmetic and plastic surgery has been completed at Granton on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The Waterfront Hospital, owned and managed by consultant plastic surgeons Awf and Omar Quaba, has been designed by award-winning NVDC Architects which has a wealth of design experience across the health, surgical and dental sectors.  Following an initial search, NVDC founder Farahbod Nakhaei viewed several shortlisted properties in Edinburgh which were suitable for redevelopment, helping to appraise each for suitability, as well as potential limitations.  The chosen building in Granton had originally been part of a Morrisons supermarket development but had remained empty and unutilised for over 14 years. The building offered huge potential and its development will now contribute to the wider regeneration of the area. Harnessing their previous experience in delivering private surgical facilities, the team at NVDC, led by Farahbod Nakhaei and Project Architect Anna Dach, produced the successful design as part of a competitive pitch process.  A key component of the client brief, in addition to being fully Scottish Health Technical Memorandum (SHTM) compliant, the design was to include one fully SHTM compliant general anaesthesia operating suite, a second operating theatre for local anaesthesia, treatment rooms and other ancillary spaces and a generous waiting area that could be used for educational purposes.  Incorporating several complex design elements, including a bespoke staircase connecting the two main floors and following the curve of the external facade, the new private hospital has just opened (4 October 2023).  Farahbod Nakhaei, founder at NVDC, said: “Having delivered several projects of a similar nature we understood the complexities of adhering to rigorous SHTM guidelines and building regulations. We were able to combine our understanding and passion to create a truly amazing and uplifting space which reflects the high standards of treatment and care provided by the client.  “Awf and Omar Quaba share our passion and ethos of creating spaces which promote and enhance both the physical and mental wellbeing.” The Waterfront Hospital features a cutting-edge building management system (BMS) with the ability to control and monitor the entire building environment to maintain the highest clinical standards.  As well as controlling and maintaining air changes, and required pressures, the BMS also controls the entire building’s mechanical and electrical services, such as access, ventilation, heating, lighting, medical gases and power.  Another key requirement of a complex building such as this is controlling access to various parts of the building. NVDC researched and specified the access control system ensuring the chosen system had the required functionality while in-keeping with the overall design of the building.  The NVDC team worked extensively with M&E consultants, Charles Scott & Partners, contractor Souness and Boyne, the access control manufacturers and client’s IT team to ensure the system could provide the complex array of requirements for managing the different levels of access to various parts of building. The access control system and the BMS can each be controlled via a mobile phone app. The entire roof space has also been adapted to house necessary plant equipment. As part of their design, NVDC included a prefabricated modular rooftop plantroom which would house plant equipment in a weatherproof environment.   NVDC was instrumental in the design of an energy efficient lighting system operated by movement-controlled PIR sensors. As an integral part of the building design, NVDC worked closely with lighting engineers to develop a lighting design which promotes ease of flow throughout the building.  Farahbod Nakhaei continues: “Working with Awf and Omar was fantastic as from the very beginning we shared values and a common goal for this project. From the outset we were given a clear brief with aspirations and objectives. In turn, the client trusted our expertise and together we were able to create a fantastic building which will offer expert care.  “We are passionate about growing our healthcare portfolio and showcasing our strengths and expertise in this sector. Most recently NVDC oversaw the completion of the Glasgow Day Surgery Centre, a registered HIS hospital. To date we have delivered over 100 design projects across the health, surgical and dental sectors.” Offering further insight into this project, Anna Dach, Project Architect at NVDC, said: “We used 3D visuals and modelling, plus mood boarding, to further refine our design throughout the various stages. It’s hugely important for us to maintain an open and honest dialogue with clients which allows for a really productive decision-making process.  “Every project, site and client is unique so we start every project by listening to our client’s requirements and analysing each particular building or site to identify its strengths and potential. Following this initial appraisal stage, we combine our experience, knowledge and creativity, to develop a set of design ideas which communicate the desired look, feel and direction of the project. It’s always satisfying seeing a project come to fruition and for clients to be excited about our design.” Omar Quaba, consultant plastic surgeon, said: “We were introduced to Farahbod by a colleague who had recently completed a day surgery centre in collaboration with NVDC. The careful attention to detail was evident from the outset, with detailed plans that impressed the contractors.  “From the design stage through to completion of building, Farahbod and Anna were very involved and always available to discuss any issues, including small design changes made towards the end of completion. We would not hesitate to recommend their services to others in the healthcare sector and wish them all the best with their continued expansion in this area.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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