The keys to Luton & Dunstable University Hospital’s new Oak and Cedar Wings have officially been handed over, marking a major step towards the facilities opening to patients later this year.
The buildings, constructed over the past three years by Kier, form part of a long-awaited redevelopment project that has been 15 years in the making for many current and former staff.
Oak Wing will house maternity triage, a day assessment unit and antenatal and postnatal wards. Cedar Wing includes delivery suites, a midwifery-led birthing unit, bereavement support, a neonatal intensive care unit, adult intensive care, eight theatres and a planned surgery centre with dedicated pods for pre and post-op care.
Each space has been designed with a focus on enhancing patient experience and providing a better working environment for NHS staff.
Installation of furniture and medical equipment is now under way, alongside finishing touches including artwork supported by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Charity.
Melanie Banks, director of redevelopment and strategic planning at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This project has been driven by hundreds of passionate colleagues who have worked tirelessly to ensure this modern hospital building stands the test of time and offers the best environment and facilities in which to care for patients.
“Community assets like this are some of the most technically complex buildings to design and construct. It takes a small army of highly skilled and inspirational leaders to bring projects like this to life.
“I would like to thank our wonderful design team, professional team, colleagues and partners at Kier, our highly skilled and dedicated project team and clinicians. Everyone involved has worked with determination and commitment to ensure we achieve the very best hospital facilities for the communities we serve.”
Cheryl Ward, managing director at Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, added: “Handing over this high-quality healthcare facility is an important day for us as it means these fantastic new facilities will soon be ready for clinical staff to use and support patients.
“Working collaboratively with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and our key project partners, this has been a rewarding project for us to work on. Much of our brilliant team who worked on this project live nearby. This is their local hospital, where their families have been treated and babies born, and their personal investment to leave a lasting legacy on this project has been inspiring.”
The Trust said it is looking forward to welcoming staff and patients into the new buildings in the coming months.
