HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
New Gloucester dental treatment hub gets green light
NHS Gloucestershire ICB and University of Gloucestershire and have agreed funding for a new treatment hub and dental school in Gloucester. Located within the University’s
City Campus, the Three Counties Dental School – which will include the Gloucestershire Dental Treatment Hub – will be operational from 2027. Markey Building Services Limited have been contracted to deliver the development works, and NHS Gloucestershire ICB is currently procuring a provider to operate the treatment hub. This £3m project will transform
the City Campus building into a contemporary dental training and treatment facility. The Three Counties Dental School will enable the launch of new dental care professional programmes which will equip students with the specialist skills required for careers in dentistry while helping address a recognised regional workforce shortage in dental professionals. From Spring 2027, the Gloucestershire Dental Treatment Hub will deliver NHS community dental services. With six individual treatment rooms, it will provide extended evening and weekend urgent care appointments to patients alongside
Modernised toilets at The Princess Royal Hospital
treatment plans and regular, routine appointments. University of Gloucestershire vice- chancellor Dame Clare Marchant DBE said: “The Three Counties Dental School, including the new Gloucestershire Dental Treatment Hub, is a fantastic addition to City Campus and a significant investment in both our students and the wider community. “We are incredibly excited to
have the opportunity to train the next generation of dental care practitioners, developing our academic and research capabilities in this crucial area. Together with our NHS colleagues, we will equip them with the skills needed to address critical workforce shortages while improving access to care across the region. “This is a strong example of
North East Ambulance Service showcases new electric vehicles
our ambition to be a connected university – working in partnership to deliver real impact and ensuring our graduates are prepared to make a meaningful difference in their communities.” Christina Worle, dental strategy clinical lead at NHS Gloucestershire ICB said: “We have been working closely with the University and local dentists and are delighted that funding has been agreed, and plans are progressing to make the new dental school and also the Dental Treatment Hub for Gloucestershire a reality. “Whilst we continue to provide
urgent dental appointments across the county, we are also focusing on making prevention a priority and helping people with the greatest need to access NHS appointments and maintain good oral health.”
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has showcased its new EV fleet. Held at the NEAS Driver Training
Centre in Team Valley, Gateshead, the showcase highlighted NEAS’s progress in developing electric response, ambulance, and patient transport vehicles as part of its wider commitment to sustainability, innovation and fleet modernisation. NEAS chief executive Kevin Scollay said: “Moving towards a more sustainable ambulance
22 Health Estate Journal June 2026
service is a vital part of our responsibility to the patients and communities we serve. “It’s an exciting moment for the
service and a real opportunity to build momentum as we move into the next phase of our electric vehicle journey.” Dave Parkin, fleet operations manager at NEAS said: “This showcase provided an important opportunity to share what we’ve learned so far as we explore how electric vehicles can be safely and effectively integrated into frontline
and patient transport services. “Alongside environmental benefits, we are seeing clear operational advantages, including lower whole life running costs, reduced vehicle downtime, and quicker servicing, which improves reliability and supports more efficient use of our fleet. Paul Leach, head of ambulance fleet at NHS England, commented: “It’s a pleasure to see first-hand the progress NEAS is making with electric ambulances and how local innovation is helping to shape national strategy. “These vehicles bring clear benefits for patients through improved air quality and for staff through quieter, smoother vehicles that are well suited to the demands of the role. While there is more to do around infrastructure, the work being done by NEAS is helping to support the NHS ambition for a fully zero emission ambulance fleet.”
Pilbeam Construction has completed a project to modernise and enhance the existing public toilets at The Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath. The £502k project saw the dated facilities replaced with a bigger, brighter, modern space featuring new extract ventilation, correcting one of the major issues of the previous block. Sussex contractor Pilbeam Construction worked with the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust to design and remodel the space, ensuring it met all NHS regulations and needs in terms of patient safety and accessibility. The new block includes facilities for men, women, and two separate accessible gender- neutral toilets, as well as baby change facilities.
Alan Corbett, managing
director at Pilbeam Construction, said: “This is the fourth time we have worked with the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and this project builds on our extensive experience of operating in sensitive healthcare settings. “Our team has vast experience of working in a live healthcare environment and we managed to keep disruption for healthcare professionals, service users and patients to a minimum. “This scheme will provide
hospital visitors with a modern and easily maintained facility which will stand the test of time.” Justin Champneys, capital development manager for the Trust at The Princess Royal Hospital said: “The response from visitors and staff has been fantastic with many commenting on what a great improvement the new facilities are. “The public toilets are a focal point to the entry of the hospital and anything we can do to make our patients’ visits a more pleasant experience is important.”
BalanceFormCreative
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
