Industry invited to get involved in £3.7bn hospital building programme

Contractors, suppliers and the wider supply chain are being urged to get involved in the country’s £3.7bn hospital building project.

The New Hospital Programme industry day is being held on September 20 in Birmingham and is the chance for industry to learn about the programme’s transformative approach to designing and building hospitals for the future.

It comes as part of the government’s commitment to delivering 48 hospitals across England by 2030 - six of which are in full construction.

The event is being held by the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England.

The New Hospital Programme is calling on the skills, expertise and creativity of companies of all sizes, across a broad range of sectors, to play a role in constructing world-class health facilities for the future. 

The programme is taking a transformative approach to designing and building hospitals including modern methods of construction, standardised design for manufacture and assembly and the latest technology. 

This event follows the launch of a new procurement framework that will standardise construction across the majority of schemes in the programme, details of which are set to be announced in Birmingham. 

During the event guests will hear from New Hospital Programme leaders, industry experts, and clinical professionals and learn how the programme plans to standardise best practice to reduce the overall time taken to build the hospitals and provide better value for money for the taxpayer.

Senior responsible owner for the New Hospital Programme, Natalie Forrest, said: “I am really excited by the scope and ambition of our programme and its vision to deliver – better, faster and with a sustainable legacy. 

“Traditionally, each time a new hospital is built, it is a standalone scheme with a bespoke approach. This programme will ensure that we capture the scale and opportunities of a national plan. 

“This is a dramatic shift from traditional hospital construction. We have a unique chance to transform the way hospitals are designed, procured and built as well as positively changing the way we deliver healthcare infrastructure for the future NHS.”

Minister for Health Maria Caulfield added: “This flagship event is an important moment for the New Hospital Programme as we transform the way hospitals are designed, making them fit for the future. 

“I urge anyone working in the health and construction sectors, including contractors, suppliers and the wider supply chain, to attend the event and hear how you can play a role in designing and building hospitals of the future and ensuring patients and staff benefit from the best facilities.”

Six of the 40 hospital schemes currently being overseen by the New Hospital Programme are in construction and one is now complete. Planning for a further 10 is well advanced. There are a further eight schemes to be announced.

Click here to find out more about the New Hospital Programme industry day.