Miller hps has been awarded the design and build contract from Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust at Gateshead Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The contract, awarded through the ProCure 21+ Framework, will see the creation of a new £22m Emergency Care Centre.
Chris Webster, Chief Executive, Miller Construction, said: “We are delighted to have secured this contract. Miller hps and the Trust will now work together to seek best value and high quality design refinements for this facility which will be built by Miller Construction. Health is a key market for us, and our ability to provide solutions is the key differentiator in working with us as delivery partner – our health offer is driven by service-led solutions as opposed to construction-led designs.”
Peter Harding, Director of Estates and Facilities, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are extremely pleased to announce the award of the contract for the proposed Emergency Care Centre to Miller Construction. We were very impressed with their credentials and look forward to working with them over the coming months to start the build of this exciting capital project. We see the build of the emergency care centre as the essential next step in our aim to provide the highest quality services that we possibly can for our patients.”
The 9,500sqm Emergency Care Centre is a three storey new build, which will create a new focal entrance to the hospital. The lower ground floor will link through to the existing hospital and incorporate staff offices, changing areas and a retail opportunity which will enable the Trust to maximise on a commercial opportunity. Emergency Care will be located on the upper ground floor, comprising a nine pod formation with a central diagnostic pod - the formation being utilised will be reviewed as an exemplar model for emergency care across the UK. A 36-bed short stay ward, each with en-suite facilities will make up the third floor. With future needs of the Trust in mind, the Centre is being designed with capabilities for further storey extensions in the future.
Miller has also been identified as the lead contractor for a potential new pathology centre covering Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The £12million development, which has been developed through a partnership between Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trusts, is proposed to be located in the former Gateshead hospital laundry and will see a strip out of the existing building with the main structure being retained, providing part refurbishment and part new build. The new centre will be home to a pathology ‘centre for excellence’ which will be supported by appropriate facilities at each of the neighbouring hospital trusts in Sunderland and South Tyneside.
The laboratory will cover a variety of testing and is anticipated to conduct over 12 million tests a year, and will also feature a ‘hot lab’ for immediate test results. The scheme is subject to full business case approval from the three organisations involved over the next few months.
Chris Webster, added: “Contracts awarded through the Procure 21+ Framework are designed to simplify the procurement process for Trusts whilst delivering value for money. We will be working hard with Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust to drive efficiencies, provide quality for money and deliver impressive buildings to benefit the catchment area. This investment by the Trust will see improvement in both the quality and efficiency of care provided and will bring its facilities in line with the service it provides.”
Works are expected to commence on the Emergency Care Centre in October and will complete in July 2014.
Note to editors:
Miller hps is a consortium comprising Miller Construction (UK) Ltd, in partnership with Guildhouse UK and Community Ventures (Management) Ltd. Miller hps is one of the principal supply chain partners on the Procure 21+ framework to deliver NHS trusts capital schemes on a partnering basis. Procure 21+ framework will save the NHS over £200m in procurement costs and will help upgrade hospitals more quickly. The framework enables the simplification of the procurement process for NHS Trusts for hospital refurbishments or new builds. Under the framework, projects can commence within six weeks resulting in a saving of least six months in the pre-construction period.