Hospital staff, contractors and members of the previous Jigsaw committees gathered at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital today to officially mark the start of construction work on the new Jigsaw building.
Trust Chairman Jane Stichbury joined Brymor Contractors to ‘break ground’ on the site of the Jigsaw building, which will provide brand new purpose-built cancer and blood disorder units and women’s health facilities for local patients.
The building will be situated between the Eye Unit and the Derwent Suite for Orthopaedics, and will bring together oncology, haematology, gynaecology, and breast care.
It will provide more space for rapidly expanding outpatient and day care treatments and ensure patients receive better privacy and dignity.
The building has been tailored to meet the needs of patients, following extensive patient and staff engagement through public sessions as well as online, in order to gather feedback on the initial plans.
Requests for Wi-Fi, counselling rooms and artwork were made, along with good car parking access, all of which have been incorporated in to the plans.
Dr Sally Killick, Consultant Haematologist, said: “This state-of-the-art build is one of the biggest construction projects at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in recent years.
“The project has been a long time in the design and development stages and I am delighted that construction work is now underway.”
Back in October last year, work began on street lighting, water drainage and relocating the patient car park situated by the Eye Unit.
Jane Stichbury, Trust Chairman, said: “Starting work on the new Jigsaw building is a very positive way to start 2014. Patients and their families give us great feedback about the quality of clinical care they currently receive, and this new building will help to enhance their experience while at the hospital.
“I would like to thank everyone who has made this project possible.”
The Jigsaw building is funded through donations and fundraising from two Jigsaw appeals, as well as NHS investment.
Construction work should be completed in 14 months’ time.
