QE Facilities is set to deliver a major programme of improvements to maternity and neonatal facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, following confirmation of £12 million in Strategic Estates Safety Funding.
This funding will support significant estate improvements that will modernise facilities, strengthen critical infrastructure, and create better connected environments for women, babies, families, and colleagues.
Working closely with Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, clinical teams, maternity staff, and service users, QE Facilities will lead the design, planning, and delivery of the programme. The work will be delivered in partnership with Robertson Construction, Ryder Architecture, DTA Consulting, GenNorth and Identity Consult. It will include the construction of a new modular theatre, refurbishment and reconfiguration of existing maternity areas, and upgrades to essential infrastructure.
One of the most significant elements of the programme will be a new direct link between the maternity unit and the main hospital building. This connection will improve access between services and support more efficient patient transfers when specialist or urgent hospital care is required.
Alongside the improvements to clinical environments, the programme will address important estate and infrastructure requirements, helping to improve resilience, and establish a more sustainable future for maternity and neonatal care.
The complex project will be carried out with careful planning and delivered in phases within a live clinical environment. QE Facilities will continue to work closely with stakeholders throughout the development and construction to ensure staff and service users have opportunities to contribute as plans progress.
Damon Kent, Managing Director of QE Facilities said: “This is a major programme of work within a live hospital environment, so careful planning will be essential.
“We will work closely with maternity and neonatal teams throughout to manage the work in phases and minimise disruption for women, families and staff.
“The investment will allow us to make significant improvements to the estate while strengthening the infrastructure that supports these services for the longer term.”
Maggie Pavlou, Chair of QE Facilities said:
“This investment represents a significant commitment to improving maternity and neonatal services for the people of Gateshead and the wider community. As a Board, we are pleased to see QE Facilities leading the delivery of such an important scheme and working in partnership with Gateshead Health, clinical teams, service users and our delivery partners to ensure the benefits of this investment are realised for future generations.”
The indicative concept sketch shows the plaza that will be created by linking the maternity building to the main hospital.
Find out more, read Gateshead Health’s full funding announcement: £12m investment announced for maternity and neonatal facilities at the QE – Gateshead Health