Financial close reached on £64m NHS Orkney scheme

NHS Orkney health facility Courtyard ViewWork to deliver a new hospital and healthcare facilities in Orkney will get underway soon after Robertson Capital Projects achieved financial close with NHS Orkney on the £64 million project.

The project will see the development of a purpose built facility to replace the existing Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall, two GP practices and the Public Dental Service.

Working with a Scottish Government long-term project finance solution, Robertson will be responsible for providing investment funding, entering into a 25-year partnership with NHS Orkney and delivering the design & build and facilities management contracts.

Keppie Design has been appointed as architects, while AECOM and TUV SUD make up the rest of the successful team.



Global professional services consultancy WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff secured the role of Independent Tester on the project last year.

Features include developing some 14,500m2 of accommodation wrapped around a single fluid space. The project will provide a total of 49 en-suite bedrooms for inpatient, assessment, maternity and mental health needs. Clinical accommodation includes emergency, theatres, endoscopy, day surgery, cancer and palliative care, radiology, dental, ambulance, renal, mortuary, pharmacy and outpatients.

Two local GP practices will also co-locate in the new building together with support accommodation including catering, staff changing, ICT, decontamination, energy, multi-faith, clinical support and general FM.

Cathie Cowan, chief executive at NHS Orkney, said: “I am delighted that we have reached financial close. The new facility is part of NHS Orkney’s wider ambitious healthcare investment programme. She added ‘I am looking forward to working in partnership with Robertson to deliver the biggest single site capital project in Orkney.



“During the course of the contract Robertson has committed to delivering a range of local community benefits and we look forward to monitoring the long-term impact of this substantial investment for Orcadians.”

Neil McCormick, managing director of Robertson Capital Projects, said: “Robertson will use the skills of its capital projects, construction and facilities management subsidiaries to deliver this major new healthcare investment in Orkney.

“This underlines our significant role as a major partner with the NHS in the delivery of the very best clinical and user focused NHS accommodation. We would like to thank NHS Orkney for the significant effort and leadership they have demonstrated in driving forward this unique project and look forward to progressing site based operations in the immediate future.”

The scheme is due to be completed in spring 2019.


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