Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Kier to deliver £92.8m new clinical buildings at Luton & Dunstable University Hospital
Kier will design and construct new high-tech clinical buildings for maternity, neonatal, theatres and critical care services to improve staff and patient experience, as well as clinical outcomes.
The project has been procured through the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) framework.
A new acute services block and a new ward block are part of the project plans. They will house a delivery suite, the midwifery-led birthing unit, a neonatal intensive care unit with parent accommodation, an ambulatory surgical unit to support day case surgery, theatre suites and a critical care unit.
An additional five-storey link building will connect the new units to the existing hospital and provide three passenger lifts.
‘Modern facilities’
Liam Cummins, group managing director at Kier Construction, said: “This is a key appointment through the Government’s CCS framework and is one of the 20 projects that the Government announced in August 2019 to receive £850m additional capital funding investment. We have been, and will continue to, implement the Construction Playbook and its principles and policies throughout project delivery.
“Kier brings a breadth of experience in delivering large healthcare facilities, as well as localised experience of the provision of opportunities for the local community through our Luton DART project.”
Melanie Banks, director of Redevelopment and Strategic Planning at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Kier as our contractor to deliver the Acute Services Block and New Ward Block at the L&D. This has been many years in the planning and we are thrilled that work will start imminently.
“These buildings will provide modern facilities, allowing our teams to continue delivering excellent care to the local community.”
The project will start on site in the next month and is due for completion in 2024.
Environment
Low-carbon concrete will be used in the building frame and floor slabs and a number of building components will be pre-fabricated off site to reduce carbon emissions – these include internal staircases with balustrades, and M&E pipework support and washroom panels.
The project will divert 7900 tonnes of waste from landfill and provide 350 hours of environmental education to subcontractors on site.
Mental health campaign for employees
It will also create new full-time job opportunities, 15 apprenticeships and work experience placements.
Kier will support Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Charity and host mental and wellbeing campaigns for staff and subcontractors.
