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Interserve and Bam among firms building emergency covid-19 hospitals
By Tom Lowe31 March 2020
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Vinci and Midas Group also setting up new wards across UK
Interserve, Bam and Vinci are among the firms building a series of emergency hospitals across the UK to care for covid-19 patients.
The health department has revealed plans to build the NHS “Nightingale” wards in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast.
Interserve have confirmed they are building the Birmingham ward, which will be housed within the 190,000m2 NEC centre.
A spokesperson for Interserve said: “Interserve Construction has been commissioned by the UK government to convert the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre into a Nightingale Hospital facility to treat covid-19 patients.
coronavirus
“As the principal contractor Interserve will be responsible for creating clinical space for 600 beds with further phases to accommodate 4,000 beds in total. Interserve will also build a drive-through covid-19 testing centre.”
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Building understands Vinci are the firm building the Manchester ward in the Manchester Central Convention Complex, while Bam yesterday said they were mobilisng to build two emergency wards - -though did not confirm where.
A spokesperson for Bam told Building yesterday that work on the two new wards was underway and they will be up and running by the end of the week.
The department of health said the network of new facilities has been procured through the p22 framework in England, which also includes Kier, Galliford Try and IHP, a JV between Vinvi and Robert McAlpine.
The framework was originally meant to run out this year but has been extended by up to 12 months to help support the NHS through the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, Midas Group has confirmed they are among the contractors building the London ward in the 100,000m2 ExCel centre near London City Airport.
The new hospital, which was first announced seven days ago, will open this week and contain at least 4,000 beds.