Whittington Health NHS Trust has approved £34.57m in capital funding for the first stage of an £84m redevelopment of maternity and neonatal facilities at Whittington Hospital, with major construction works expected to begin later this year.
GRAHAM is delivering the wider programme of works at the hospital, having been appointed through the ProCure22 framework to deliver a new extension for maternity and neonatal services alongside fire remediation and infrastructure upgrades.
The programme will replace and upgrade existing maternity and neonatal facilities at the north London hospital, with the work being delivered in phases while services continue to operate.
The first stage, known as Phase 0, will prepare the site for the main redevelopment and includes the creation of temporary facilities for neonatal services.
Some enabling work is already under way. This includes the demolition of the hospital's former chimney and energy centre, as well as the relocation of the chapel from near the Labour Ward to the Jenner Building.
The £34.57m approved for Phase 0 will also fund temporary neonatal facilities.
These will allow the existing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Baby Unit to move out of their current locations while the permanent replacement facilities are constructed.
Phase 0 is expected to be completed in October 2027.
£49m further investment
The wider redevelopment is currently estimated at around £84m.
Whittington Health estimates that a further £49m will be required for the next three phases, known as Phases 1A, 1B and 1C.
Phase 1A will include a new permanent neonatal unit, refurbishment of the Women's Day Unit, Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit and postnatal ward, as well as interim maternity triage facilities and supporting accommodation.
Later phases will include further improvements to maternity triage and the Labour Ward, together with works to the hospital's main entrance.
The programme is being phased because the works will take place within an operational hospital.
Maternity and neonatal services will continue throughout the redevelopment.
Whittington Health expects the main redevelopment works to start later in 2026.
“I know this feels like it has been a long time coming, but we are so excited that the works will now accelerate,” said Selina Douglas, Chief Executive of Whittington Health NHS Trust.
