Groundbreaking ceremony marks start of construction for new Emergency Care Building
As part of the New Hospital Programme, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) is delighted that plans to expand Derriford Hospital’s urgent and emergency care pathways began today as we marked the beginning of construction of the new Emergency Care Building.
The new four-storey facility is designed to meet the growing demand for emergency care and to ensure the sickest patients receive swift, high-quality treatment. Due to open in 2028/29, the building is a £247 million investment into our healthcare estate.
The ground floor will feature an expanded Emergency Department (ED), with the existing ED space reconfigured to serve as a dedicated Paediatric ED. On the first floor, a Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit will provide urgent hospital treatment for patients who require same-day care, with follow-up managed in the community.
The second floor will house four state-of-the-art Interventional Radiology (IR) theatres, supporting advanced diagnosis and treatment using modern imaging technologies, along with a patient recovery area and staff rest facilities. Lastly, the third floor will include five new surgical theatres for both emergency and planned procedures, as well as a patient recovery area and staff office spaces.
In addition to enhancing clinical capacity, the building will provide a modern environment that meets current healthcare standards. Staff workspaces will be improved, and patients and their families will experience a better, more respectful and dignified journey through emergency care.
The start of construction was celebrated with a ceremony attended by key stakeholders from the New Hospital Programme, construction partners Mace and Willmott Dixon, Fred Thomas MP for Plymouth Moor View, as well as hospital staff and Emergency Department volunteers, Jan Lawrence, Eileen Pearce, Jean Stockwell, Wendy Tancock and David Short, who took part in a symbolic groundbreaking with ceremonial spades.
Stuart Windsor, Programme Director for Our Future Hospital said, “It has been a long journey to get to today, but we will now finally see the new Emergency Care Building start to rise from the ground. This important building will provide the people of Plymouth and the wider Devon and Cornwall peninsula a facility that they can be proud of, and will finally give our clinicians the space to care. The new building is one part of the wider improvements that the hospital is making in Urgent and Emergency Care, which will allow us to continue the improvement in the quality and timeliness of the care that we offer. I would like to thank all of those who have provided support for this scheme over the years – it is great to see the project visibly happening.”
Jan Lawrence, ED Volunteer and retired nurse said: I’ve been volunteering for three years since retiring. It’s a pleasure to attend such an important milestone for the development of the hospital that continues to serve the community in such a dedicated manner.”
Charlotte Taylor and Paul Mustow, New Hospital Programme Joint Senior Responsible Owners said: “We are delighted that the construction of Derriford’s new Emergency Care Building is commencing and is the first of the Wave 1 schemes in the New Hospital Programme to begin main construction. We appreciate the hard work and dedication of all those involved to get to this stage and look forward to seeing the new hospital developing.”
Darren Crook, New Hospital Programme Delivery Director said: “ It’s rewarding and inspiring to see construction start on Derriford’s new Emergency Care Building. This modern facility will give patients high-quality and timely care, and provide staff with the spaces they need to do their best work. It’s a hugely important milestone for the hospital and the community it serves."
