Mid East contractor kicked off Midlands hospital

A Middle Eastern contractor has been kicked off a new hospital scheme in the Midlands after a year of delays and “difficulties”.

Modcon UK was constructing part of St Luke’s Hospital in Market Harborough using prefabricated units imported from the Middle East.

But NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland confirmed its contract had been terminated and it was now taking legal advice over the possibility of recouping costs from Modcon.

Sue Bishop, NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland’s director of finance, said: “This was not a decision taken lightly and unfortunately it will mean further delays to a project which has been beset by several difficulties over the last year.

“We are extremely disappointed that it has come to this, but we could not allow the contract to continue when the promised work and contractual obligations were not being fulfilled by Modcon UK Ltd.”

Bosses confirmed they would be looking for a new contractor immediately but the hospital would now not open until early 2012.