MAJOR construction work on a new state-of-the-art multi-use facility at Royal Bournemouth Hospital is complete.

Hundreds trekked to the roof of the six-storey BEACH building for a ceremony marking the ‘topping out’ of the facility which aims to improve birth, emergency, critical care, and children’s health services for residents across the region.

Bagpipes, bolt tightening, and beer (alcohol-free) all formed part of the ceremony on Friday, May 19, which was dubbed a “momentous occasion” in healthcare by University Hospitals Dorset representatives who were pleased to report the project was on schedule and on budget.

Spanning 23,000m2, BEACH will contain a new maternity unit and children’s unit as well as an enhanced emergency department – larger than the existing facilities at RBH and Poole combined – and a critical care unit with a 30-bed capacity.

Siobhan Harrington, UHD chief executive, said: “The BEACH building, when it welcomes patients in 2025, will help create a hospital specialising in emergency care at the Royal Bournemouth, while at Poole we are putting the finishing touches to our new operating theatres complex.”

Ms Harrington said the first planned operation at the new Poole site would take place at the end of May.

Bournemouth Echo: CGI for BEACH building at RBH.CGI for BEACH building at RBH. (Image: UHD)

Also speaking at the ceremony was Under Secretary of State for the Department of Health Lord Nick Markham, who told the Echo the building would serve around 145,000 patients a year.

“We have a standardised design which we plan to roll out cookie-cutter style across the country with speed and agility,” he said.

Lord Markham also stated his mother had received end-of-life care at Poole Hospital and cited the area as “special” to him. He added: “Obviously the demographic around here is older people which is why our £7.5bn investment in the next two years for social care is key.”

Bournemouth Echo: 'Topping out' ceremony at the BEACH building at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.'Topping out' ceremony at the BEACH building at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. (Image: Newsquest)

The topping-out ceremony, which has traditions dating back to the Roman era, saw a symbolic final tightening of bolts as well as an evergreen bough nailed to a structure.

The event was hosted by Integrated Health Projects, an alliance between VINCI Building UK and Sir Robert McAlpine.

Addressing concerns about Poole losing its emergency department as part of the project, UHD’s chief medical officer Peter Wilson said: “This is absolutely brilliant for the people of Dorset.

Bournemouth Echo: 'Topping out' ceremony at the BEACH building at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.'Topping out' ceremony at the BEACH building at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. (Image: Newsquest)

“As clinicians, we completely understand the concerns the public will have but we can see all the benefits.

“What we have here has been a real partnership between the public and the hospital. Yes, there will be concerns but by freeing up this space, people will get their surgeries quicker as well as their urgent treatment.”

Interior work on the BEACH building will commence imminently.