New multi-million building for Royal Bournemouth Hospital 'topped-out'
The new unit will house maternity, children's and critical care units
A new multi-million pound state-of-the-art building at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital has moved a step closer today.
The construction's been topped-out, so just the internal work needs to take place now.
It'll house a new maternity unit, critical care services and a paediatric ward.
The BEACH Building, as it's being called, spans 23,000 square meters over six storeys, equivalent to 115 tennis courts.
When it opens in 2025, it will enable the Royal Bournemouth Hospital to become the major emergency hospital for Dorset.
Health Minister Lord Markham said:
“It was an honour to attend the topping out ceremony of Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s new BEACH Building, backed by over £168m of government investment.
“This building will improve birth, emergency and critical care services, and children's health services, making a significant difference in helping cut waiting times for patients in Dorset by serving nearly 145,000 patients a year.
“We continue to work closely with the NHS to improve services and this new building is part of over 70 hospital upgrades we’re delivering across the country, on top of 40 new hospitals.”
Siobhan Harrington, UHD’s chief executive, said:
“Today is a special day as we celebrate two milestones that will change healthcare for the better.
“The BEACH Building, when it welcomes patients in 2025, will help create a hospital specialising in emergency care at the Royal Bournemouth, while at Poole, we are putting the finishing touches to our new operating theatres complex - creating the major planned hospital for Dorset.
“Today's 'topping out' is a momentous occasion but there is still a long way to go.
“As we plan for the future services, we remain focused on the present, and the responsibility to continue to deliver high-class care for all our patients.”