HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
Construction begins on landmark BCASCS
Constructor Galliford Try has begun construction on the Birmingham Centre for Anatomy, Surgical and Clinical Skills (BCASCS) located on the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus. The landmark development that will deliver cutting-edge clinical teaching spaces for the University of Birmingham’s growing College of Medicine and Health. In partnership with the University of Birmingham and Bruntwood SciTech, the £21m project will see the fit-out of 2.5 floors within a newly- built seven- storey building. These facilities are designed to provide state-of-the-art environments that support innovative and immersive teaching methods. The fit-out of BCASCS will deliver
a cutting-edge facility that replicates real-world medical environments for teaching and hands-on training. It will feature specialist areas including mock hospital wards, a simulated operating theatre, consulting spaces, a mortuary, an embalming room, and immersive learning zones with virtual reality, simulated patients and
New RAAC removal project
Medical Architecture has been asked to produce an Outline Business Case for the eradication of RAAC from Kettering General Hospital.
home-care scenarios. This project forms part of a wider masterplan comprising six phases over the next decade, ultimately delivering 657,000 sq ft of life sciences space for the campus. Simon Courtney, managing
director for Galliford Try Building West Midlands and South West, commented: “We’re proud to play a key role in delivering the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, which will become a cornerstone for medical education and life sciences in the region. This project reflects our commitment to creating world-class
facilities that support innovation, sustainability, and collaboration.” Professor Neil Hanley, pro-vice- chancellor and head of the College of Medicine and Health at the University of Birmingham, said: “By establishing our Birmingham Centre for Anatomy, Surgical and Clinical Skills at BHIC, we are providing the next generation of healthcare professionals with access to essential cutting-edge facilities. These state-of-the-art resources will enable students and postgraduate trainees to engage in practical learning experiences that mirror real- world healthcare environments.”
Sussex hospital helipad ready for patients
The rooftop helipad at the Royal Sussex County Hospital is now operational, marking a significant milestone in enhancing emergency and major trauma care across Sussex. As the region’s designated
Major Trauma Centre, the Royal Sussex County Hospital can now receive major trauma, cardiac, and stroke patients even faster. The operational helipad means air ambulance services from across the region can bring patients directly to the hospital within minutes, strengthening the Sussex Major Trauma Network and improving outcomes for people with time critical injuries.
The development of the helipad has been made possible thanks in part to a £1.9m donation from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding hospital helipads. The HELP Appeal’s contribution – one of the biggest the charity has given to any hospital – also covered the cost of a Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System, which can extinguish a fire within 15 seconds on the helipad. The Royal Sussex County Hospital’s helipad is now one of only eight in the country to have this state-of-the-art technology.
Recent months have seen
extensive safety and readiness works to prepare the site, including upgrades to the helipad surface – part-funded by the HELP Appeal – and improvements to the fabric of the Thomas Kemp Tower. Dr Andy Heeps, chief executive
at University Hospitals Sussex, said: “Reaching this point has been both complex and challenging, but it is a wonderful example of
18 Health Estate Journal April 2026
multidisciplinary teams from across our Trust, truly coming together as one UHSussex, alongside our external partners and charities, to overcome the challenges associated with making the helipad safe and effective. The collaboration, problem solving and dedication shown by everyone involved has been extraordinary, and today marks a proud moment for all of us as we continue our mission to provide excellent care, everywhere.” Robert Bertram, chief executive
of the HELP Appeal said: “We are delighted that the helipad has now opened as it will make a lifesaving difference for patients arriving at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, turning vital minutes saved into better chances of survival. “We are incredibly grateful to our supporters, whose generosity has made this possible. Their commitment ensures that critically ill patients can land just a lift ride away from the specialist care they urgently need.”
Undertaking the role of Design Lead, Medical Architecture will be working with an experienced team with a track record of collaborative working on similar healthcare schemes. This includes Strategic Healthcare Planning (Healthcare Planning and Business Case Authoring), WT Partnership (Project Management and Cost Consultancy), and PJA (Transport Consultancy). Bob Wills, director at Medical
Architecture, said: “Building on our experience of RAAC eradication on hospital sites, we are delighted to be working with the Trust on this challenging piece of infrastructure planning. Whilst born out of a critical safety need, this project provides an opportunity to transform the existing estate to create a facility which improves the patient and staff experience of women’s and newborn health services.”
In December 2023, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was discovered in the roof of the Rockingham Wing building, which houses the Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (OBC) Trust’s maternity, gynaecology, and neonatal services. While measures have been taken to enable services to continuing operating safely in the short term, Medical Architecture will work with the Trust to undertake an option appraisal to identify a long-term solution. This will focus on eradicating RAAC from the site, as well as delivering high-quality and sustainable accommodation which supports the current and future requirements of the estate.
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