Tilbury Douglas has been appointed as the lead contractor for the £100 million Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit project at Dorset County Hospital.

The major redevelopment, funded by the Government's New Hospital Programme and procured through the ProCure22 framework, marks a significant milestone for the hospital and the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The signing of the contract paves the way for the main construction work to begin in spring 2024, once initial enabling works are completed. The new facilities are expected to open in 2027 and will significantly enhance the hospital's ability to provide life-saving care, with expanded and state-of-the-art spaces designed to treat the most critically ill patients.

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The new Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit will feature a range of cutting-edge facilities, including a rooftop helipad for quick patient transport, dedicated spaces for both major and minor injuries, a mental health unit, and a specialist emergency paediatrics area. Additionally, the unit will include 24 critical care beds and an ambulance arrivals and fast-assessment area to streamline emergency care services.

Richard Boeg, Managing Director – Building South and South Wales at Tilbury Douglas, said: "The signing of the contract is an important milestone for this project, which, once completed, will really benefit the local community for generations to come.

"Our extensive experience and knowledge in the sector, and of the hospital specifically, will enable us to move ahead with this scheme and deliver the first-class facilities required by the Trust."