Hospital project milestone 'a long time coming'

The construction of a £247m emergency department has reached its highest point in an "important milestone" for the project.

The six-story facility would replace Derriford Hospital's 50-year-old emergency department and double current capacity when it opens in spring 2029, said University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.

Stuart Windsor, Future Hospital programme director, said the new emergency department would "make a real difference to patients across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall".

"It's been a long time coming but over the last 11 months we've gone from breaking the ground to seeing the building come out of the ground," he said.

The new facility would include same day emergency care, new operating theatres and larger spaces to improve privacy and dignity for patients, said the trust.

It said the old emergency department would become a dedicated children's emergency department.

Stephen Ford, a project director at construction firm Willmott Dixon, said heavy rainfall and hot weather had been "one of the biggest challenges", with concrete deliveries recently restricted when temperatures exceeded 30C.

He said the frame took about 11 months to complete with crews having to adjust their shifts to start earlier and finish earlier to keep the project moving.

"The next stage is to get water tight as best we can and prevent the weather from affecting us on our progress," he said,

Mechanical and electrical work and fitting of internal walls would also take place, he added.

Dr Anne Hicks, an emergency medicine consultant, said staff had been waiting for the new department for years.

She said the new building would give patients "space to care" and improve the working environment for staff.

"I came here 24 years ago and was told that we're getting a new department 'soon'," she said.

"We have been working in compromise for some time, we know how to do the job professionally, but not having that really professional, modern space to do it has really affected us."

She said the new building would give patients "space to care" and improve the working environment for staff.

"We couldn't be more excited about this being on our near horizon now," she added.

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