1 July 2020

While Covid-19 has stopped a lot of construction projects in their tracks, Frimley Health has continued to build its new Heatherwood Hospital throughout the pandemic.

The build is considered essential works and has been allowed to continue through lockdown, although many processes throughout the site have had to adapt and change.

But thanks to the efforts of developer Kier and its teams, as well as Frimley’s own project team, there has been minimal impact and the new hospital’s final timeline has not been affected.

Work on the small roundabout on the Kings Ride road has been completed, and the reduction in traffic during lockdown meant that this work happened without any major impact on the surrounding community.

And all the while behind the scenes Frimley Health clinicians are developing new ways of caring for their patients to ensure the new Heatherwood will help the Trust continue to provide exceptional care in the future.

New hospital milestones:

• Week commencing 29 June 2020 – Crane removal from site
• Winter 2020 – Building made watertight
• Winter 2020 – Alteration work begins on main roundabout
• Autumn/winter 2020 – Power switched on in the building
• Mid-2021 – Site handed over to Frimley Health from Kier
• Mid-2021 to winter 2021 – Commissioning of the new build and decommissioning of the old site
• Winter 2021/22 – Transfer of activity and equipment from old site to new building
• 2022 – Old site handed over to Taylor Wimpey for housing development