Dorset County Hospital’s new emergency department and critical care unit have received final approval. Groundworks on the Dorchester site will begin soon, allowing major contractor Tilbury Douglas to commence the £80 million-plus project early next year.
To proceed, the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust initiative requires official business case approval from the government. Tilbury Douglas, designed by BDP, will construct a new emergency department and critical care unit on the site of the former Damers First School as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
The structure will have 24 critical care beds, a mental health institution, and specially designed areas for serious and minor injuries. “Getting the go-ahead from the planners is a really exciting moment, not only for the local community but also for the project teams whose diligent work has secured this life-changing resource,” said Paul Gale, Divisional Director at Tilbury Douglas.
“Our teams are prepared for the upcoming construction phases, and we’re eager to get started on the main New Hospital Programme scheme on site,” said the project manager.