More than 400 contractors from Balfour Beatty, Kier Group, Robertson Group and Graham Construction are working alongside nearly 150 NHS Scotland clinicians and operational staff to establish the new NHS Louisa Jordan.

The facility will provide an initial 300 beds to help safeguard Scotland’s NHS during the coronavirus outbreak.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman has praised all staff who are working at the site to develop this new facility.

Ms Freeman said: “I want to send my sincere thanks to the many clinical, operational and construction staff who have been on site at the SEC to construct this new NHS Scotland hospital.

“They are working together, under exceptional circumstances, to deliver a clinically safe and fit for purpose hospital that if required, will provide extra capacity for NHS Scotland.”

Elliot Robertson, chief executive at Robertson Group, added: “As part of the assembled team responsible for the delivery of the NHS Louisa Jordan in the SEC Glasgow, we are committed to ensuring the delivery of the best facilities to meet the timescales. Our wealth of experience in the healthcare sector means that we are perfectly placed to assist the NHS in providing this national facility. We are ensuring the safety of the workers on the project by implementing stringent health and safety procedures reflecting the additional social distancing requirements required in respect of COVID-19.

“Like the rest of Scotland we are hopeful that the facility will not be required, but will be doing all that we can, to make sure that the NHS can continue to deliver first class services in their fight against COVID-19.”

Hector MacAulay, Balfour Beatty’s regional managing director of its UK construction business in Scotland & Ireland, said: “In these unprecedented times, we are extremely proud to be playing our part in the response to COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the critical work that our NHS workers are doing on the frontline, ensuring that NHS Scotland has the capacity it needs as we pull through this crisis together.”

Gary Holmes, Scotland director for Graham, added: “It’s a privilege to support NHS Scotland and its clinicians in the development of the new Louisa Jordan hospital to provide additional capacity for the people of Scotland at this most difficult of times.

“Graham has significant experience in delivering modern healthcare facilities throughout Scotland, and we are working flat-out to help successfully complete this vital facility.

“I’m proud of the way the construction industry in Scotland is coming together during this crisis.”

Gary Wintersgill, managing director for Kier Regional Building in Scotland, said: “Our teams are working tirelessly to convert the Scottish Event Campus so it can be operational by mid-April.

“We are committed to working with our partners to deliver this temporary hospital in Glasgow that will assist NHS Scotland’s response to COVID-19. These are unprecedented times and I could not be prouder of the collective effort, dedication and skill of all parties involved, including our local supply chain.”

It is believed the facility will be ready to open in the next two weeks.

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