The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has appointed BAM as its principal supply chain partner to deliver a new Cornwall women and children’s hospital
The new building has been designed to bring together the hospital’s neo-natal and paediatric care, obstetrics and gynaecology services within one facility. The new Cornwall women and children’s hospital will become the location for the hospital’s new main entrance.
The hospital will incorporate MMC and digital innovations
The Women and Children’s Hospital is part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme, which is focused on delivering 48 new hospitals across England by 2030. Hospitals part of this programme are being built using modern methods of construction (MMC), with environmental features throughout to support the NHS’s carbon net zero ambitions.
The hospital will also have smart digital enhancements and innovations, including sensory and interactive play areas, systems to connect families and carers remotely in the delivery of care, and enhancements to the management of patient call systems to provide a quieter, calmer environment on the wards.
Improving spaces to provide outstanding patient care
Roberta Fuller, programme director for the Cornwall Women and Children’s Hospital, and Head of Hospital Reconfiguration at Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust said: “We are delighted to have appointed BAM as our Principal Supply Chain Partner. This is a really important partnership for the Royal Cornwall Hospital, and we are pleased to be moving forward with the enabling works projects with support from the New Hospital Programme.
“Our designs for the new Women and Children’s Hospital are based on meeting the needs of our local community in Cornwall and will transform the hospital site. Bringing services together, along with bigger rooms and better facilities, will improve patient flow and create spaces in which to provide outstanding care long into the future.”
Leaving a positive community legacy
Graham Kingdon, construction director (Western Region), BAM Construct UK, added:
“What makes a building come to life from the outset is the strength of understanding between all the parties. That is what drives our ability to innovate, find additional sustainability solutions, and add value to the local economy and communities. Our goal is to deliver the new hospital to agreed timescales, solving problems as we go through the intelligent use of technology.
“The chance to build something special for so many people brings with it an obligation on us, as a responsible business, to use this opportunity to improve the lives of those around us. BAM will be working not just inside the hospital environment but also with the local communities in Cornwall to do our best to leave a positive community legacy, as well as an outstanding new hospital.”
The hospital is currently at Outline Business Case stage and was recommended on 3rd February 2023 to go forward to His Majesty’s Treasury for next stage approval.
The outcome of this recommendation is expected in the next few weeks. Enabling works for the new hospital will continue into 2024 and 2025, with the provision of a new Pathology building and the relocation of Cardiac and Pharmacy services to make way for the new building.
The entire programme is anticipated to complete in 2028.
