Yeovil Hospital has moved a step closer to opening a fifth theatre, dedicated to orthopaedic surgery, following the recent topping-out ceremony by Morgan Sindall Construction.

Set to open by the end of the year, the new theatre was funded by the NHS England's elective care recovery fund, which is money allocated to NHS trusts following the COVID-19 pandemic to bring waiting lists down.

Morgan Sindall was appointed via SCAPE's direct award National Construction Framework to deliver the new theatre extension, which will be located on the roof of an existing four-storey building. Once complete, the hospital will also benefit from the refurbishment of the existing recovery ward, clinical stores and staff welfare areas.

As the project takes place in a live hospital environment, the team had to take a number of important precautions to mitigate any risk. Morgan Sindall and key members of hospital staff worked closely to minimise patient disruption and to ensure the hospital was able to operate as normal. These precautions will remain in place throughout the next phase of the project.

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Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Chair, Colin Drummond was joined by hospital clinicians and managers to celebrate the project’s progress at the topping out ceremony. Cara Hatcher, an orthopaedic clinician at Yeovil Hospital, was also tasked with tightening the final 'golden' bolt of the steel work to mark the completion of the roof works.

Clifford Kinch, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the South, said: "Helping public sector organisations to address challenges such as an increased demand for services is a big part of what we do at Morgan Sindall. We're pleased to be celebrating progress on this project at Yeovil Hospital which is set to transform the way orthopaedic care is delivered through this new facility.

"The design has been carried out to make the ward an inviting space for both patients and staff, with logistics and comfort considered in tandem to help keep things running smoothly while providing a facility where the best possible care can be carried out. "We're looking forward to delivering this high-quality facility for Yeovil Hospital which patients will benefit from for years to come."