Willmott Dixon wins largest P21+ contract
Revamp of Darlington Memorial Hospital continues with refurbishment of operating theatres
Willmott Dixon has secured its largest project under the P21+framework with the appointment by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust for the £20m refurbishment and extension of operating theatres at one of its hospitals.
The project will provide new surgical facilities at Darlington Memorial Hospital, with the final number and configuration of theatres to be agreed as part of the full business case now underway.
It will also include improvements to the recovery suite, day surgery facilities and the associated post and pre-operative ward areas.
Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the North, said: "Willmott Dixon will utilise its national experience of working within a busy hospital environment to help CDDFT realise its plan for improved facilities at Darlington. The focus will be to ensure that construction work does not disrupt the hospital’s day-to-day activities.”
A phased programme of work will be used to minimise disruption to clinical services and to ensure the operating theatres remain open throughout the project.
Work is expected to get underway in early 2014, with completion in 2016.
The trust’s director of estates and facilities, Bill Headley, said: “This project demonstrates our continued commitment to the redevelopment of the Darlington Memorial Hospital site.
“It will give the hospital modern and well-equipped theatres, helping us to futureproof surgical services at Darlington Memorial Hospital. With more theatres, we’ll be able to perform more operations in better facilities, reducing waiting times and improving the patient experience.”
Over the last three years the trust has spent £26m on a major upgrade to the engineering infrastructure and a new energy centre, £5.5m on a new eight-bed intensive therapy unit, £1m on increasing capacity within the accident and emergency department, and £250,000 on improving car parking.
