Construction of Dumfries and Galloway’s new acute hospital got off to a healthy start yesterday (Monday 8 June) when Health Secretary Shona Robison cut the first sod at a special ceremony on the site.
Chairman of the Board, Philip Jones, welcomed the Health Secretary to the site of the new £200 million facility. When it opens in 2017, the hospital will have 344 single rooms, an emergency care centre and a new combined theatres complex. New models of care and the latest technologies will enable staff to provide patients with the highest standards of care.
Ms Robison said: “I’m delighted to be here today to mark the beginning of work on the new Dumfries Hospital. This is an exciting, and important, day for all those people involved in the project who are finally seeing their hard work come to fruition.
“The £200 million project will provide a brand new Emergency Care Department, a combined theatre complex for day surgery, endoscopy and surgical patients, and consolidated ambulatory care.
“These new facilities will transform healthcare in the Dumfries region, providing patients with the highest quality facilities in their local area. The Scottish Government is investing over £2 billion in Scotland’s health infrastructure over four years, to 2015-16, with this development being one of many that demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to continually improving health services.”
Mr Jones said: “This is a really memorable day for NHS Dumfries and Galloway and the new hospital project. The team has worked hard to get us to this point and the progress we have made is a real testament to their dedication. I am delighted that the Health Secretary was able to join us for this special occasion.”
International construction and engineering company Laing O’Rourke is building the new hospital as part of the High Wood Health consortium.
Bill Haughey, representing High Wood Health said: “We are delighted to welcome the Scottish Health Secretary, along with our client NHS Dumfries and Galloway, to officially mark the start of construction here today.
“With the works now progressing, not only will the site on which we stand soon begin to transform, but we can also begin to drive the economic and educational benefits we’ve pledged to create through the construction programme and beyond. This is a very exciting project that the High Wood Health consortium and our wider team are proud to be delivering.”
The construction and delivery of the new hospital will bring a range of community benefits to the region, including the creation of 150 new jobs, 36 apprenticeships, and opportunities for small and medium enterprises to tender for contracts.
High Wood Health is working with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Employability Partnership to deliver the new jobs and an education programme.
Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Cllr Ronnie Nicholson, said: “Building the local economy is our council’s number one priority so I am pleased that as part of the development of the new hospital we have secured a number of different employment and training opportunities, ensuring real benefit for people across our region.”
