Tessa Quinn
The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is a major teaching and research hospital located in Liverpool, England. The hospital, which was originally scheduled to open in 2017, faced several delays due to construction issues and the collapse of its main contractor, Carillion, in 2018. Despite these challenges, the hospital finally opened its doors in late 2022, providing improved care and treatment for patients and enhanced learning and working environments for NHS staff. The new Royal Liverpool University Hospital is part of the NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and is committed to transforming healthcare services in the city.
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What You'll Learn
The new hospital opened in late 2022
The new Royal Liverpool University Hospital opened in late 2022, marking the completion of a major redevelopment project that began in 2013. The hospital is a major teaching and research facility located in Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter, serving the people of the Liverpool City Region. The new facility replaces the existing 1970s adjacent hospital, which was designed to consolidate three other city centre acute hospitals.
The redevelopment of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital faced significant delays and challenges. Initially scheduled for completion in 2017, the project encountered construction problems and was impacted by the collapse of the main contractor, Carillion, in 2018. In December 2019, it was confirmed that the hospital would not open until 2022, with concerns that the pandemic might cause further delays. Despite these setbacks, the hospital remained on track for a late 2022 opening, with remedial structural works completed and plans finalised for the move.
The new hospital features 640 beds, a net reduction of 14 beds compared to the previous facility. It includes three link bridges connecting to the adjacent Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Liverpool, enhancing healthcare infrastructure in the region. The opening of the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital was met with positive responses from staff, patients, and visitors, offering improved privacy, dedicated spaces, and increased investment in reablement services.
The hospital's completion is part of the NHS's New Hospital Programme, backed by significant government funding, aiming to improve health infrastructure across the country. The programme includes the construction of several new hospitals, with a focus on delivering outstanding healthcare facilities to serve local communities. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is a testament to the collaborative efforts of healthcare experts, construction partners, and the resilience of all involved parties in overcoming challenges to deliver a leading healthcare facility for Liverpool.
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Construction was plagued with problems and delays
Construction of the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital was plagued with problems and delays. The project, procured under a Private Finance Initiative contract, was expected to cost £429 million and be completed by March 2017. However, issues with cost, time, quality, and health and safety law compliance slowed down construction.
In 2018, it was reported that the project was costing £53.9 million more than Carillion, the main contractor, had officially disclosed. Carillion was also found to have installed non-compliant cladding, which led to further delays as the NHS Trust considered terminating the contract. In September 2018, the UK government stepped in to terminate the deal, taking the hospital into full public ownership. This decision was made due to unforeseen issues left by Carillion, and the total cost of completing the hospital in 2020 was expected to increase by £120 million.
The hospital's opening was delayed multiple times, with Carillion revising the initial completion date of March 2017 to February 2018. However, in December 2017, Carillion informed the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that they would miss the revised deadline. The company went into liquidation in January 2018, and in December 2019, it was confirmed that the hospital would not open until 2022.
Laing O'Rourke was appointed as the new delivery partner in 2018, and the hospital finally opened in late 2022. Despite the delays, the total cost to taxpayers remained similar to the original plan due to effective risk transfer to the contractor.
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The project was taken over by Laing O'Rourke in 2018
The Royal Liverpool University Hospital (RLUH) is a major teaching and research hospital located in Liverpool, England. It is the largest and busiest hospital in Merseyside and Cheshire. The hospital is part of the NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and is associated with the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
In 2013, a major redevelopment of the hospital began, with an initial completion date set for 2017. However, due to construction problems and the collapse of the main contractor, Carillion, in 2018, the project was delayed. Following Carillion's collapse, the government terminated the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) deal, and the hospital came under full public ownership.
Laing O'Rourke, an international engineering enterprise, was appointed as the new delivery partner in 2018 to lead the completion of the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Laing O'Rourke worked in collaboration with project manager Gleeds, architects NBBJ and HKS, structural engineer Arup, and MEP engineering support from Hoare Lea. The project was led by Andy Thomson, an experienced project director who had successfully delivered four major acute hospitals in the UK, including Liverpool's Alder Hey Children's Hospital.
Laing O'Rourke's team faced the challenge of rectifying structural issues caused by Carillion, including serious cracks in concrete beams. They devised a programme to strengthen the beams and reduce the loads, ensuring the structural integrity of the building. Despite these challenges, the company successfully completed the project, handing over partial possession of the hospital to the NHS Trust in 2022.
The new Royal Liverpool University Hospital opened its doors to patients in October 2022, providing state-of-the-art healthcare facilities to the people of the Liverpool City Region. The hospital features 640 beds, 18 operating theatres, and 40 critical care beds. It is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single en-suite bedrooms, enhancing patient privacy and comfort. The hospital also includes a large clinical research facility, positioning LUHFT as a leader in national and international clinical trials and studies.
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The new hospital has improved patient care and treatment
The new Royal Liverpool University Hospital opened in late 2022, five years behind schedule. The project was plagued by issues with its main contractor, Carillion, which went into liquidation in 2018. The hospital was eventually completed by a new team led by Laing O'Rourke. Despite the delays, the new hospital has brought about several improvements in patient care and treatment.
Firstly, the new hospital has enabled the NHS to care for more people. It has 640 beds, and there are also 21 'transfer of care' beds opening at the nearby Broadgreen Hospital site, with a further 10 beds in the community. This represents a net reduction of 14 beds compared to the old hospital, but the new facility has improved the efficiency of patient care. For example, at Broadgreen, a High Volume, Low Complexity Unit has been introduced, where patients can undergo procedures under local anaesthetic. This has resulted in fewer patients needing to stay in the hospital after surgery.
Secondly, the new hospital has improved the quality of care and treatment for patients. All patients now have access to single en-suite rooms, which has provided them with increased privacy and an undisturbed night's sleep. The hospital's collaboration with the University of Liverpool and other institutes on the Liverpool BioCampus has also given Liverpool recognition as one of the leading UK centres for health research and innovation. This will likely lead to further improvements in patient care and treatment in the future.
Thirdly, the new hospital has improved the working environment for NHS staff, providing them with better places to learn and work. This is expected to boost staff morale and retention, which will positively impact patient care and treatment in the long term.
Finally, the new hospital has enabled the trust to boost further investment into its hospitals. The moves that accompanied the hospital's opening, which brought together teams into single services, have allowed the trust to make the most of its specialist staff and improve outcomes for patients. This reorganisation will likely lead to continued improvements in patient care and treatment.
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The new hospital has 640 beds
The new Royal Liverpool University Hospital has 640 beds, a reduction of 45 beds from the previous hospital. The new hospital also features 21 'transfer of care' beds at the nearby Broadgreen Hospital site, with a further 10 beds in the community.
The new hospital was designed by NBBJ and HKS and was constructed by Carillion, though the company went into liquidation in January 2018. The project was then taken over by Laing O'Rourke, who completed the hospital in late 2022. The new hospital is part of the NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and is associated with the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. It is also connected to the adjacent Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Liverpool, built by a Laing O'Rourke-led team.
The new Royal Liverpool University Hospital is a major teaching and research hospital located in Liverpool, England. It is the largest and busiest hospital in Merseyside and Cheshire. The redevelopment of the hospital began in 2013 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2017. However, construction problems and the collapse of Carillion delayed the opening until late 2022.
The new hospital has been well-received by patients, who have reported improved privacy and undisturbed nights of sleep. The hospital is also enabling the NHS to provide better care and treatment for patients, with all patients using single en-suite rooms. The opening of the new hospital has also facilitated service moves across LUHFT's sites, bringing together teams into single services to make the most of specialist staff and improve patient outcomes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the new Royal Liverpool Hospital is open.
The new Royal Liverpool Hospital opened in late 2022.
The new Royal Liverpool Hospital was originally scheduled to open in 2017. However, issues with the main contractor Carillion, including cost overruns, construction problems, and the company's eventual collapse in 2018, delayed the project. The COVID-19 pandemic also posed challenges, but the hospital opened partially in May 2020 to provide additional critical care during the pandemic.
The new Royal Liverpool Hospital provides improved care and treatment for patients, with all patients having access to single en-suite rooms. It also offers enhanced learning and working environments for NHS staff. The hospital is part of a broader healthcare investment programme in Merseyside, featuring link bridges to the adjacent Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Liverpool.
