Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has appointed BAM Construction to create a new MRI suite and 24-bed haematology oncology ward.
The £30m development will replace the current oncology facility, Lowen Ward, which will relocate to the new unit in autumn next year.
Located in Treliske, Truro, the work is being funded via national NHS capital funding streams and delivered as part of the Government’s Procure22 capital framework.
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. It will be designed to contain up to three scanners.
Work on the main building phase of the project will commence on site shortly using new methods BAM has adopted in order to enable social distancing during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Initial enabling works were completed at the end of January, with full completion of the scheme expected by autumn 2022.
The building has been designed by Stride Treglown, with Arup acting as structural engineers and Hoare Lea overseeing mechanical and electrical services.
This new building will be of great benefit to the people of Cornwall; providing important diagnostic and treatment services in a modern, high-quality environment
Graham Kingdon, construction director at BAM, said: “We’ve been on site conducting minor works for the trust over the last couple of years so 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.”
Roberta Fuller, head of hospital reconfiguration at the trust, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with BAM on the new MRI suite and haematology/oncology Unit.
“This new building will be of great benefit to the people of Cornwall; providing important diagnostic and treatment services in a modern, high-quality environment.”
And Sarah Caskey, clinical matron, said: “Having worked within cancer nursing care for 25 years, I am delighted and honoured to have been involved from the start of this project.
We will have an increase in specialised isolation rooms and overall bed provision and we are excited at this opportunity to be able provide the highest standards of care with the most-up-to-date facilities and environment for our patients
“Nursing and medical staff, along with patients, have contributed to the design of the ward and acute oncology assessment area.
“We will have an increase in specialised isolation rooms and overall bed provision and myself and my nursing team are excited at this opportunity to be able provide the highest standards of care with the most-up-to-date facilities and environment for our patients.”
The new Lowen Ward - a modern Cornish word meaning ‘joyful’ - will be a 24-bed facility that specialises in looking after haematology, oncology and palliative patients.
It will also care for patients who need to be isolated as part of their treatment, with specially-ventilated rooms.