Contractor named for Cornish hospital expansion

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has appointed BAM Construction to create a new MRI suite, 24-bed Haematology Oncology Ward and associated facilities. The current Oncology Ward, Lowen Ward, will relocate to the new unit in autumn 2022.

The £30M development in Treliske, Truro, is being funded via national NHS capital funding streams and delivered via the Government’s capital framework for healthcare in England known as Procure 22.

The new building will be a three-storey extension to the existing Trelawny Wing, with the MRI suite connected at lower ground floor level to the Imaging Department and designed to contain up to three scanners.

BAM said work on the main building phase of the project will commence on site shortly using new methods the company has adopted in order to create social distancing and operate safely during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Initial enabling works were completed at the end of January 2021, with full completion of the scheme due by autumn 2022.

BAM Construction Director Graham Kingdon said: “We’ve been on site conducting minor works for the Trust over the last couple of years, so we have formed a good understanding and relationship with them and our partners in advance of the major works commencing.

“We will have to keep the hospital fully functional during this time despite the technical challenges.

“As ever, communication between us is critical to achieve exactly what the Trust needs to provide the right services for people across Cornwall into the future. I’m pleased to say that we’re local here too, and it means a great deal to us to be involved.”