WORK has started on the build of a temporary NHS Scotland hospital inside the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in Glasgow, as the country looks to battle the Covid-19 virus.
Balfour Beatty, Kier, Robertson Group and Graham Construction are the main contractors on the NHS Louisa Jordan project, with there being over 400 contractors in total.
Health secretary, Jeane Freeman, said, “I want to send my sincere thanks to the many clinical, operational and construction staff who have been on site at the SEC to construct this new NHS Scotland hospital. They are working together, under exceptional circumstances, to deliver a clinically safe and fit for purpose hospital that if required, will provide extra capacity for NHS Scotland.”
Elliot Robertson, chief executive of Robertson Group, said, “As part of the assembled team responsible for the delivery of the NHS Louisa Jordan in the SEC Glasgow, we are committed to ensuring the delivery of the best facilities to meet the timescales. Our wealth of experience in the healthcare sector means that we are perfectly placed to assist the NHS in providing this national facility. We are ensuring the safety of the workers on the project by implementing stringent health and safety procedures reflecting the additional social distancing requirements required in respect of Covid19. Like the rest of Scotland we are hopeful that the facility will not be required, but will be doing all that we can, to make sure that the NHS can continue to deliver first class services in their fight against Covid-19.”
Hector MacAulay, Balfour Beatty’s regional managing director of its UK construction business in Scotland & Ireland, said, “In these unprecedented times, we are extremely proud to be playing our part in the response to Covid-19 pandemic, supporting the critical work that our NHS workers are doing on the frontline, ensuring that NHS Scotland has the capacity it needs as we pull through this crisis together.”
Gary Holmes, Scotland director for Graham commented, “It’s a privilege to support NHS Scotland and its clinicians in the development of the new Louisa Jordan hospital to provide additional capacity for the people of Scotland at this most difficult of times. Graham has significant experience in delivering modern healthcare facilities throughout Scotland, and we are working flat-out to help successfully complete this vital facility. I’m proud of the way the construction industry in Scotland is coming together during this crisis.”
