BALFOUR Beatty has secured a £32 million contract to build a new ophthalmology and orthopaedic health facility in Inverness on behalf of NHS Highland.
The contractor will build the 8,305 sqm national treatment centre, including 24 inpatient rooms, five operating theatres, clinics and outpatient departments. The company will also build minor operation and procedure rooms, consulting rooms, a café, children’s play area and office support rooms.
The new facility will provide elective orthopaedic surgery and full ophthalmology services to surrounding communities.
Balfour Beatty revealed that the team will collaborate with NHS Highland to provide work experience and employment opportunities for local students.
Hector Macaulay, regional MD of Balfour Beatty’s UK construction services business in Scotland & Ireland, said, “We are proud to be collaborating with NHS Highland to deliver a world-class National Treatment Centre that will improve the experience of patients through improved services and facilities. This contract award is testament to our expertise and experience in delivering high-quality, complex hospital facilities, having most recently lead the delivery of the landmark NHS Louisa Jordan hospital as part of our efforts to tackle Covid-19, and are currently delivering two new community hospitals in Aviemore and Broadford.”
Completion is scheduled for 2022. At peak construction, the project has been tipped to employ a workforce of 300, as well as several work experience placements.
