Work to deliver the new £223.6million Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre in Aberdeen has taken a further major step forward.

 

The NHS Grampian Board has approved for submission to the Scottish Government Capital Investment Group the Full Business Case for investment in The Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre on the Foresterhill Health Campus.

 

Scottish Government approval is required before construction work can begin.

 

The new development will help modernise patient care at the Foresterhill Health Campus, which is one of Europe's biggest healthcare sites, and is part of NHS Grampian's continued investment in new or upgraded facilities across the north-east.

 

Board members were told the full business case confirms the proposed arrangements for the construction of the ANCHOR Centre which is anticipated to open in 2022 and The Baird Family Hospital in 2023.

 

Site preparatory works - which saw existing buildings demolished, roads realignment and a range of service diversions - have already been completed.

 

Project director, Jackie Bremner said: "Once the business case approvals are in place, plans for the main programme of works will commence with our construction partner GRAHAM Construction.

 

"This is a very exciting and important milestone which will allow the project to move to construction. It is also the result of five years of hard work for hundreds of people including clinical staff, patients, members of the public, designers and construction colleagues.

 

"These magnificent new facilities, will benefit patients and their families for many years to come."

 

 She added: "The development of the Baird Family Hospital and the ANCHOR Centre, will change the Westburn Road face of the Foresterhill Health Campus in Aberdeen and support the delivery of modern, high quality health services for the people of Grampian and the north of Scotland for many years to come."

 

 Professor Mike Greaves, clinical lead for ANCHOR said: "This is a tremendous milestone and I am very proud of what has been achieved. The ANCHOR Centre will provide much needed state-of-the-art facilities for patients with cancer and disorders of the blood and bone marrow.

 

"The design process has focused upon the delivery of first class and efficient clinical care in an environment which ensures optimal patient comfort and privacy.

 

"In addition, the centre will house facilities for clinical research aimed at the development of improved treatment regimens, and dedicated conference and teaching areas to assist in ensuring the maintenance of the highest standards of expertise of our staff."

 

Dr Mike Munro, consultant neonatologist, clinical lead for The Baird Family Hospital, said: "I am delighted that this stage of the project has been reached. The new Baird Family Hospital will provide maternity, gynaecology, breast screening and breast symptomatic services. 

 

"It represents the culmination of five years of work with the clinical services that will occupy the Baird and is another step closer to its opening.

 

"I would like to personally thank the many staff and the patient groups involved to date and I am sure their hard work will be rewarded when the Baird Family Hospital opens its doors and they see what they have achieved through their involvement with the project."

 

Chris MacLeod, regional director for GRAHAM, said: "We have worked closely with NHS Grampian over the last three years to reach this point in the project, we are delighted that the full business case  is now being formally considered for approval.

 

"We look forward to continuing our partnership with NHS Grampian and delivering exemplar facilities for the patients within the North East region and beyond."