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Virtual launch of Scotland's latest hospital projects

£233.3m development comes under the spotlight

An aerial view of the construction site for the new Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre
An aerial view of the construction site for the new Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre

Scotland’s latest hospital construction projects came under the spotlight this week with the virtual launch of the Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre.

Patients and staff were given a sneak preview of the developments, with the launch of a video ‘fly through’ of the £233.3m project.

NHS Grampian’s virtual launch showcases the scheme, which started on site in January and will provide two state-of-the-art health centres serving the people of the north east and north of Scotland, including the Northern Isles. 

The scheme includes a new 26,000sq m specialist women’s health research facility with a hotel, maternity, gynaecology, neonatal and non-clinical support services.

The 5,500sq m ANCHOR Centre will deliver oncology and haematology day and outpatient care. 

It will also be home to the research and teaching facilities and will have an onsite pharmacy.

An exemplar

Designed by NORR Architects and being constructed by GRAHAM, the hospitals are due to open in 2023.

Chris MacLeod, regional director for GRAHAM, said: “We have worked closely with NHS Grampian over the last four years in the development of the new Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre. 

“This virtual launch event gives an exciting glimpse of the exemplar facilities which will offer the highest quality of care for years to come for the people of the north east of Scotland and beyond.”   

Jackie Bremner, project director at NHS Grampian, added: “We are thrilled to be able to show the population of Grampian and the north of Scotland what these world-class facilities will look like, and how they will support patients and families through their journey of care. 

“The new facilities have been developed to comply with modern-day standards and reflect feedback received during hundreds of meetings and workshops involving, staff, patients, and patient groups. 

“This includes, for example, 100% single-room, en-suite patient bedrooms, spacious modern outpatient and day patient accommodation, operating theatres, neonatal facilities, and a patient hotel. 

“This quality environment, with improved flow, will support staff in the delivery of first-class care.” 

First-hand experience

The launch also featured three patient stories from a neonatal mum, the chairperson of the Aberdeen branch of the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, and a haematology patient, speaking about the benefits they believe the new facilities will bring.    

The construction phase of the development is making use of modern technology, with Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes at the heart.

This approach is helping to derive efficiencies and streamline workflows.

The GRAHAM team also made use of Virtual Reality (VR), which transported users to a simulated environment where they could view the completed space before construction even started.

And, by collaborating closely with architect, NORR, more than 20 of the most-complex rooms were developed and exported into VR by GRAHAM’s digital construction team. 

This meant staff were able to view rooms from Baird Family Hospital such as breast, gynaecology and obstetric theatres, non-obstetric recovery bays, and birthing suites.

Modern technology

Dirty utility, clean utility, and consultantion rooms were also available to view from the ANCHOR Centre.

Bremner said: “To assist with the design of some of the more-complex clinical rooms, we commissioned GRAHAM to develop 3D virtual reality models of around 20 complex rooms including an operating room, treatment rooms, a neonatal ITU bay, as well as a patient bedroom and en-suite.

“During the workshop, doctors, nurses, and other key members of staff used the VR technology to inform the design of these rooms.”

 

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