Laing O’Rourke has given partial possession of the Royal Liverpool Hospital to the NHS trust that will run it.
Construction of the 640-bed hospital stalled following the collapse of Carillion in 2018. Carillion had been building the hospital under a PFI deal. Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust (LUHFT) terminated the deal in September of that year after work ground to a halt.
Laing O’Rourke took over construction of the building in 2019, but had to work to remedy structural issues. It emerged while Carillion was still working on the project that there were serious cracks in concrete beams. Laing O’Rourke devised a programme of works to strengthen the beams and reduce the loads that were causing structural issues.
‘Immense sense of pride’
LUHFT will start to move into the new facility in September this year.
Andy Thomson, Laing O’Rourke project director, said: “Reaching today’s milestone is testament to the hard work of our workforce and supply chain partners. I would like to thank every one of them for their commitment and hard work on this unique project.
“Handing over a new hospital always gives our entire team an immense sense of pride. This is the 17th hospital that our experienced healthcare team has delivered in the UK since 2010, and alongside Alder Hey and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is the third one to serve the people of Merseyside.”
James Sumner, chief executive at LUHFT, added: “The new hospital marks the beginning of a new era of healthcare in the city, when the people of Liverpool will finally have the hospital and facilities that they deserve.
“Today represents a real milestone in the life of Liverpool University Hospitals and in the construction of the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital. I’m delighted that we have taken possession of the building from our construction partners Laing O’Rourke.”
