WORK has begun on a new £91million building at a hospital that is a ‘once in a generation opportunity’ for Bournemouth and Dorset residents.

The new building at Royal Bournemouth Hospital will provide four levels of new hospital wards, totalling 110 beds, along with additional staff facilities.

The 10,800 square metre state-of-the-art building is an innovative modular construction and is being built by specialist construction firm Darwin Group.

Around the same height at the new BEACH building at 30 metres high, the new construction will include solar panels for renewable energy to help it be zero carbon.

There will also be extensive catering facilities on the ground floor level, which will help provide improved food quality and choices.

(Image: University Hospitals Dorset)

The building is expected to be completed in the winter of 2025, with swift progress already made at the site as demolition is nearing completion.

It forms a part of the £500million transformation programme across the University Hospitals Dorset sites.

Richard Pierce, Darwin Group CEO, said: “We are incredibly proud to be working alongside our NHS partners to deliver this major project for the people of Dorset. The site will improve healthcare and outcomes for the local community for many years to come.

“With the demand for healthcare services higher than ever, the new unit will be able to extend and expand services for the local community while also providing employment opportunities for local people ranging from medical staff to support staff.”

Dr Robin O’Gorman, UHD medical care group’s medical director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to see this project underway. Patients will benefit from new ward spaces, with the majority being single rooms. Staff will also benefit from having a great place to work within.”

Across the hospital site, the BEACH building is nearing completion and is expected to open in 2025.

The multi-use facility’s name stands for Births, Emergency And Critical care, children’s Health, each of the areas that will be housed in the new building.

The building spans 23,000m2, the equivalent of 115 tennis courts, and will serve around 145,000 patients a year.

For more information, visit the University Hospitals Dorset website.