5 Jun 2007

Interserve, the services, maintenance and building group, has been awarded a series of projects in Welsh Health Estates' Designed for Life: Building for Wales framework programme. The aggregate value of the work is over £200 million.

Interserve's consortium, Interserve Health Wales, will undertake design, healthcare planning, cost consultancy, services installation, CDM (construction, design and management) co-ordination, professional services consultancy and construction.

The largest project, accounting for just over half the total, is the  proposed new Newport Local General Hospital for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust as part of its Clinical Futures programme. Interserve will commence development of the Full Business Case in September 2007 dependent upon approval from the Welsh Assembly Government of the Outline Business Case. The project includes rationalisation of healthcare solutions and buildings, and the proposed new hospital will be built on a brownfield site within Newport. Construction work is expected to start in 2009 and to complete by the end of 2012.

The other projects awarded are: the reconfiguration of mental health services within the Swansea area; a strategic programme for mental health facilities at Llandough Hospital, Cardiff; an adult mental health unit at Wrexham Maelor Hospital; and a new breast-care facility at Prince Phillip Hospital, Llanelli.

Designed for Life: Building for Wales is a construction procurement framework set up by Welsh Health Estates to deliver 21st century healthcare to the people of Wales. Based on the development of long-term strategic partnerships and the active promotion of integrated supply chains, it began in the middle of 2006 and is scheduled to run for four years with a further two-year option.

Adrian Ringrose, Chief Executive of Interserve Plc, said, "Interserve has been established in Wales for over 60 years and has created many important facilities for the community, including Neath Port Talbot Hospital in 2002. These project awards under the Designed for Life: Building for Wales framework agreement will enable us to deliver further first-class hospitals and healthcare amenities for the people of Wales."