Contractor will begin construction of 350-bed facility next year

Hospital

A consortium led by Laing O’Rourke has been named preferred bidder for a £200m general hospital development in Dumfries.

NHS Dumfries and Galloway said the contractor will start construction of the 350-bed facility on the outskirts of Dumfries next year.

Laing O’Rourke is in consoritum with Serco, which will provide estate management services.

The client chief executive Jeff Ace said: “This is the major milestone that we have been working towards for months now, along with two bidders who have produced the final designs for the kind of facility that we need so that our staff can deliver the best care possible for our patients.”

Project director Dennis O’Keeffe said the decision followed an “intense period of competitive dialogue and evaluation”.

He said: “Their proposed solution is one that brings to bear a consortium of designers and contractors with considerable expertise and resources to fulfil our expectations,” he said.