News round-up: Construction and design

Published: 8-Nov-2011

Read on for our weekly round-up of healthcare construction and design news, including completions, new contract wins, up-coming developments and the deployment of innovative products

Altrincham hospital designs unveiled

PROPOSED designs for a new £10m hospital to be built in the centre of Altrincham have been put on display for the public to view at locations across Trafford. The final design for the facility is being drawn up by Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust and developer, Citybranch, with input from NHS Greater Manchester and Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group. Tristram Reynolds, director of estates and capital planning at Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “The current display gives people an initial overview of how the new hospital will look and feel. We are very pleased with the bright, airy and comfortable design and believe it will significantly improve facilities for our patients. We know everyone will be keen to see the final design as soon as it is ready, and there will be a full public exhibition at that stage.”

Green light for four new health centres

BUCKING the current trend which has seen a decline in healthcare sector construction contracts, NHS Sheffield has announced that work on four new primary care centres will start soon. To be delivered under the NHS LIFT scheme in conjunction with Community 1st Sheffield, the projects have recently reached financial close, paving the way for builders to move in. The four centres are: Bluebell Medical Centre in Wincobank Avenue, which will replace the Bluebell GP Surgery; Foxhill Medical Centre in Fox Hill Road, which will replace existing premises in Halifax Road; Darnall Community Health Centre in Main Road, which will replace the existing practice; and Norfolk Park Medical Centre in Park Grange Road, which will replace premises in Tower Drive.

Tenders sought for £20m scheme

NHS Gloucestershire is inviting applications to tender for a £20m development at Tewkesbury Hospital. The scheme comprises the design and construction of a new Tewkesbury Community Hospital including phased demolition of the hospital buildings and an adjacent bungalow. The accommodation includes 20 single inpatient bedrooms, each with en-suite shower room, and a small operating theatre. Detailed plans have been submitted to Tewkesbury Council and are currently awaiting a decision.

Modular angioplasty service

MODULAR buildings have been installed at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle in preparation for a new coronary angioplasty service set to launch at the end of November. A permanent base on the site is planned for the new Heart Centre in the next few years, but the temporary buildings will house an operating theatre, X-ray facility and new heart ward in the interim. Dr Roger Moore, lead interventional consultant cardiologist at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The new angioplasty service in the Heart Centre allows local access to treatments already available in other parts of the country. Cumbrian patients will have the opportunity for immediate diagnosis and treatment of coronary heart disease, reducing the likelihood of heart attacks and saving lives.”

Dementia wards to get facelift

UP to 60 hospital wards across Tayside will benefit from a £1.3m project to improve environments for elderly patients and those with dementia if a trial at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital is a success. The redesign will include colour-coded areas and pictorial signage, as well as analogue clocks to clearly indicate day and night. The changes should benefit all patients, but especially those with cognitive problems and the visually-impaired. Sandy Watson, chairman of NHS Tayside’s board of trustees, said: “Currently across Scotland there is no statutory format for a ward environment and today's decision by the board of trustees will allow us to test out a whole ward design prototype which we believe will benefit patients and their carers and families, as well as staff, tremendously.”

Learning disability homes planned

STAFFORDSHIRE County Council has announced plans for a £1.5m housing development for people with learning disabilities. A Prior Information Notice has been published in the Official Journal of the European Journal for the construction of supported living accommodation in the south Staffordshire district. The project is to provide 11 units plus two resource flats. Work is due to start in April.

News round-up: Construction and design

ALSO IN THE NEWS:

Public sector infrastructure giant, Capita Symonds, has bought ESA Architects for an undisclosed sum… Seating and tables from the Knightsbridge Furniture Care Collection have been specified for the redeveloped Swallownest Court mental health inpatient unit in Rotherham, which was formally opened last week… Crossgrip walkway matting, manufactured by Plastic Extruders Ltd, has recently been specified and installed by Burren & Whitaker Construction over some flat rooftops at Epsom Hospital… Equitix, supported by Community Solutions Investment Partners, has announced the acquisition from the John Laing Group and Uberior (Bank of Scotland), of Primary Plus (Holdings), the private sector partner in six LIFTCo partnerships…

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