Significant milestone for the Grange University Hospital

Today Laing O’Rourke celebrated a significant milestone at The Grange University Hospital, near Cwmbran.

Vaughan Gething AM, Minister for Health and Social Services led the topping out celebrations which marked construction reaching the highest point of the new £350m hospital.

To mark this milestone the Health Minister ceremonially poured some concrete before an audience of the Laing O’Rourke project team, invited guests and staff from the Health Board.

Laing O’Rourke’s Project Director, Mike Lewis, said: “This is a significant milestone on a project which showcases our offsite capabilities and excellent standards of construction. It’s a testament to the hard work of our project team. The Grange will leave a lasting legacy for the South East Wales region and the local community in Cwmbran and once again highlights how our engineering expertise and DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) is delivering a high quality building for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and will result in the second half of the construction programme finishing on or before schedule.”

Health Minister Vaughan Gething, said: “It’s fantastic to see another landmark being reached in this state-of-the-art project. The new hospital will provide both separate emergency and specialist care, ensuring Aneurin Bevan University Health Board can maintain the highest standards of care.

“The project is an excellent example of Welsh Government funding creating health, education and economy benefits for the local area.”

Judith Paget, Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan University Health Authority, said: “The Grange University Hospital represents a key milestone in our Clinical Futures Programme – our plan to deliver NHS health services that are of the highest quality and fit for the future.

“This brand new, modern facility will enhance the care we are able to offer to our patients alongside our existing hospital sites and the important work that goes on in our communities to keep people healthy and out of hospital whenever possible.

“I would like to personally thank all our staff in the Health Board who continue to work hard to make this new hospital – and future models of care – a reality.

“We couldn’t make Clinical Futures and this new hospital happen without the support of our partners and the close working relationships we have with them.

“I’d like to thank all our partners for their continuing help and encouragement including our construction partners Laing O’Rourke and Gleeds for turning our plans into a finished building that we can all be very proud of.”

Ann Lloyd CBE, Chair of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board added ”one of my first official engagements as Chair of the Health Board was to attend the cutting of the first sod ceremony in July 2017. We have come a long way since then and just 20 months later, The Grange University Hospital is almost built.

“I should like to thank everyone who has supported us in the building of this new hospital, including the Welsh Government, Health Minister Vaughan Gething, Lyn Neagle AM for Torfaen and the Leader of Torfaen County Borough Council, Councillor Anthony Hunt.”

Victoria Head, Associate Director at Gleeds said: “Through working collaboratively with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Laing O’Rourke for over five years, we have built some solid relationships and continue to develop these as others join the project. We continue to be a very proud and supportive partner and value our involvement in such a prestigious project in South Wales.”

The Grange University Hospital is prominent on the skyline above Cwmbran. Its innovative design and construction emerged out of Laing O’Rourke’s initial engagement with the Health Board when they worked together on the Designed for Life Framework.

The Grange University Hospital is due to be open early in 2021.

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