Meet Adrian Eggleton – Strategic Advisor to Darwin Group
We are pleased to welcome Adrian, former NHS England Operational Lead for Estates and Facilities, who is supporting Darwin Group as a strategic advisor.
His extensive operational and leadership experience in the sector will further enhance our ability to meet the needs of health and care providers now and into the future. Adrian will be joining us on the Darwin Group stand at NHS Providers conference and exhibition in Liverpool next Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 November, so come and find us to say hello.
RBH breaks ground on new Coast Building
Royal Bournemouth Hospital has started the main construction phase on the Coast Building, a state-of-the-art ward and catering block, that will expand patient capacity and elevate University Hospital Dorset’s services as part of the national New Hospital Programme.
The Coast Building will feature 110 new beds across four levels, a larger kitchen and catering facility, and modular, adaptable spaces designed to meet evolving healthcare needs. Spanning 10,800 square meters, the facility also reflects a commitment to sustainability, with renewable energy supported by photovoltaic panels.
Thinking Outside the Box: Meeting the Government’s 40,000 Additional Appointments
With Labour pledging to tackle the NHS’s waiting list crisis by delivering 40,000 additional weekly operations, scans, and appointments, the need for rapid, innovative solutions is undeniable. But achieving this ambitious goal requires more than just a promise—it demands a fresh approach.
Mind the Gap: Rethinking Resilience in NHS Estates
As healthcare professionals, suppliers, and—most importantly—patients, we witness the daily strain on the NHS. Alarmingly, four out of six key NHS performance indicators are declining, jeopardising patient safety and risk management, despite the dedicated efforts of the workforce who continue to provide care with limited resources.
Darwin Group Introduces On-Demand Healthcare Infrastructure Solutions to Support the NHS Through Winter Pressures and Beyond
Darwin Group, the UK’s leading healthcare construction specialist, today announced the introduction of a new product set, On-Demand Healthcare Infrastructure Solutions. The solutions are designed to assist the NHS, private, and independent sectors in managing the anticipated winter surge in hospital admissions and primary care visits, addressing evolving future demands and preventing service disruption during estate maintenance and repair.
New-look modular mental health bedroom earns praise at industry conference
Industry experts and service users have welcomed changes to Bedroom Evolved; a pioneering modular mental health bedroom built by healthcare construction firm Darwin Group. The firm recently showcased its new-look project at the Design in Mental Health Conference for a second year running and said feedback from visitors was very positive.
New surgical centre at Southmead Hospital takes shape
The external structure of the new Elective Centre at Southmead Hospital has now been completed. More than 200 modules have been lifted into place by a crane over six weeks to create the building structure. The centre is a joint project between North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), supported by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board.
Theatres Building Taking Shape at James Paget University Hospitals
A new theatres building which will help reduce surgical waiting lists for patients is taking shape at the James Paget University Hospital.
14 years and counting – meet Head of Construction , Rich Owen
From managing onsite construction to costing major projects, Rich Owen, head of construction for Darwin Group, holds a number of responsibilities.
In Conversation with Amber Jabbal
‘Building a responsive and effective NHS that is fit for the future and gives patients, and staff, safe, secure and fit for purpose environments in which to receive their care and to work,’ Head of Policy for NHS Providers tells Darwin Group.
‘Spaces are powerful’ – Creating spaces for greater staff and patient experiences
Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to improving the wellbeing of your workforce, the evidence base on the most effective initiatives and approaches is constantly evolving. This can provide a useful basis for reviewing the approach and making decisions as we know how important it is to retain our valued NHS workforce.
‘Working environments and break out spaces are key,’ says Raffaela Goodby, Chief People Officer at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
NHS Requires System-Wide Flexible Strategy to Secure the Future of its Estates and Buildings: New Report
Harnessing the potential of flexible modular buildings to directly reduce the NHS backlog of some 7.6 million individual cases can help transform the future of the service and make it secure for the long term, according to a report published today by healthcare facilities experts Darwin Group and Portakabin.
Reimagining Estates Funding: In Partnership with NHS Confederation
Capital is a scarce resource in the NHS, yet high in demand. Existing estates are deteriorating, creating a potentially unsafe and uninviting environment for patients and staff.
But with limits on funding and an ever-changing landscape for providing care, how will the NHS meet current demands, accommodate changing needs and continue to reduce backlogs in care, all while providing outstanding patient care? Darwin Group recently partnered with the NHS Confederation to deliver a webinar on these issues.
Major work begins as Darwin Group construct new state of the art NHS building
As part of the New Hospitals Programme, major work has begun at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in the delivery of a multi-million-pound hospital building that will increase patient ward capacity across the region.
Ground breaking ceremony marks exciting milestone for Hinckley’s Community Diagnostic Centre
Pioneering construction firm Darwin Group joined key delivery partners to celebrate the ground breaking ceremony as construction commenced on the new community diagnostic centre in Hinckley.
Healthcare Estates Capital Value: Roundtable Report with HFMA
With too little capital funding available, how can the NHS ensure it gets the most value out of its investment in infrastructure and equipment? A recent HFMA roundtable, in partnership with Darwin Group, made some suggestions.
Spotlight: Interview with Stephanie Hassanali, General Practice Nurse
As a general practice nurse in a Primary Care Network (PCN) Stephanie Hassanali has a rare insight into the challenges facing GPs.
She has been a nurse for 12 years and in general practice for the last eight of those, working across 11 practices as part of two PCNs in London.
Construction underway on new Diagnostic Centre at Yeovil District Hospital
Pioneering construction firm Darwin Group and Prime invited key delivery partners to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony as construction commenced on the new diagnostic centre at Yeovil District Hospital.
14 years and counting – meet Senior Site Manager, Nik Davelis
From liaising with clients and ensuring projects are completed on time and on budget, to running a safe site, no two days are the same for Darwin Group’s experienced senior site managers.
A dramatic yet thoughtful evolution for mental health treatment
Darwin Group Principal Architect Louis Sullivan and his team have poured a lot into a very important project. The team first unveiled ‘Bedroom Evolved’ at last year’s Design in Mental Health Conference and it will be returning for this year’s event.
Could a new way of funding healthcare estates be the shot in the arm the NHS has been looking for
With NHS repair backlogs reaching record levels, and the future of the new hospitals programme facing an uncertain future, leading modular construction firms Darwin Group and Portakabin bosses are calling for a rethink around how healthcare estates are planned and funded.
Darwin Group and Portakabin have combined their strengths to deliver excellence in modern healthcare environments.
Healthcare Focus: Misconceptions of modular construction
We put the spotlight on Production Director Adrian Mitchell to talk about the misconceptions of modular construction and why more and more healthcare estates are choosing it over traditional building methods.
Stick-built or traditional construction has long been the standard within the industry. However, modular buildings have gained popularity in recent years as a flexible, sustainable and cost-effective option for various applications. But according to Adrian Mitchell, there are still some common misconceptions that can cause confusion or hesitation when considering modular as an option.
Pioneering mental health bedroom returns for second year running
A pioneering modular mental health bedroom built by Darwin Group is returning to the Design in Mental Health Conference for a second year running. Bedroom Evolved drew in the crowds at last year’s conference when it was launched. Created by leading offsite healthcare construction firm Darwin Group, in collaboration with Safehinge Primera and Tough Furniture, it set a new bar for acceptable standards in mental health bedroom design. This year, the team behind the bedroom has made several improvements based on visitor feedback, including changes to the furniture, lighting, flooring and colour palette.
Community health hubs: Could they be the answer to saving £26 million for an average-sized ICS?
With financial pressures increasing for NHS Trusts year-on-year, could the introduction of more community health hubs be one way to help improve health outcomes while saving millions simultaneously?
Two in five general practice staff consider their premises not fit for purpose
Insufficient space for professional development and training are just two of the issues GPs are battling, caused by working from outdated premises. A report from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), received the views of 2,649 general practice staff.
Campaign identifies GP surgeries as the number one priority for investment within the health service
Darwin Group is backing the call for increased investment into GP practices after a recent campaign highlighted the immense pressure the services are under.
Work starts on new £49 million Elective Centre at Southmead Hospital
The Elective Centre is a joint project between North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) supported by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board and NHS England. It will enable an additional 6,500 operations to be carried out across the area every year.
Darwin Group becomes Corporate Partner with HFMA
Darwin Group is proud to announce its partnership with the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the professional body for finance staff working in healthcare.
Operating as a Corporate Partner with HFMA, Darwin Group will connect with healthcare leaders and network colleagues across a variety of activities to discuss timely estates and construction discussions, approached through a finance-focused lens.
Construction of new Learning and Development Centre at Calderdale Royal Hospital underway following ground breaking ceremony
Darwin Group and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) have celebrated the start of construction of a new, state-of-the-art Learning and Development Centre at Calderdale Royal Hospital. An official ground breaking ceremony took place on Friday 11th March, and was attended by representatives from both CHFT and its construction partners, Darwin Group.
Darwin Group on the lookout for four new interns for programme that saw multiple previous recruits progress to management roles
Leading specialist healthcare construction firm Darwin Group is on the lookout for new people for its successful intern programme that has seen four previous recruits become managers. The Telford-based firm is recruiting throughout March for four interns to join its growing business this coming September.
We’re sponsoring the Building Better Healthcare Awards 2024
Darwin Group is proud to announce that we are the headline sponsor for the 2024 Building Better Healthcare Awards.
First look behind the scenes of the new health hub in King’s Lynn
Leading healthcare construction firm Darwin Group led an exclusive progress tour around a new £11.5m health hub in King’s Lynn that is currently under construction. Over 25 guests braved the January weather to have a ‘first look’ tour of the King’s Lynn Health Hub site on Nar Ouse Way, King’s Lynn.
Darwin Group spreads some festive cheer to young patients at St Luke’s Hospital in Bradford
Darwin Group has helped spread some festive cheer by donating almost £500 worth of toys to young patients at St Luke’s Hospital, in Bradford.
Find out how we could ‘work as one’ with your Trust at this year’s HFMA conference
We’re proud to be headline sponsors of the upcoming HFMA annual conference. Come and find us on stand D6 to see how we can work as one with you.
New centre officially opened after seeing 20 percent increase in procedures
A first-of-its-kind modular Heart Centre with two cardiac catheterisation laboratories, built by Darwin Group in Basingstoke has led to a 20 percent increase in angiogram procedures in its first year, with more than 2,700 patients being seen. The Hampshire Hospitals Heart Centre was officially opened this week at a ceremony led by chairman of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Steve Erskine, and The Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq.
Discover our fast, compliant, permanent building solutions at Healthcare Estates
Visit us at the IHEEM Healthcare Estates conference from Tuesday 10 to Wednesday 11 October, to find out more about how Darwin Group can provide a rapid and complete construction solution for your healthcare estate needs.
Darwin Group relaunches intern programme that saw four previous recruits progress to management roles
Leading specialist healthcare construction firm Darwin Group has relaunched a successful intern programme that saw four previous recruits become managers.
The Telford-based firm is on the lookout for four interns to join its growing business.
The relaunch coincides with National Intern Week (25-29 September), which highlights the opportunities internships can offer
Darwin Group’s Resilience Ward is the fast, compliant, permanent capacity solution for NHS estates
A new ‘fast deploy’ ward to help NHS trusts struggling with the unprecedented combination of RAAC problems, winter pressures and backlog maintenance has been launched by leading specialist healthcare construction firm Darwin Group.
Fifteen jobs up for grabs as Darwin Group continues Telford expansion
Fifteen jobs are up for grabs at Telford’s Darwin Group as the healthcare construction specialist continues to expand.
The roles, which include junior and senior positions across the architectural, design, sales, commercial and construction departments, will support the firm’s growth as it partners with the NHS to create outstanding healthcare facilities.
Mud, sweat and tears for Darwin Group heroes
Our muddy heroes returned to the office battered and bruised but triumphant this week after completing the gruelling 15km Tough Mudder North event on Saturday. They’ve raised more than £1,700 for Severn Hospice already, with more to come!
Why NHS winter pressures could be the worst ever this year – and how we can help
As the seasons change and we begin the march into autumn, experts are warning the NHS could be heading into its worst ever winter. With new strains of Covid already widely reported, some people are calling for mask wearing to be reintroduced in certain settings. A potential increase in infections coupled with the Government decision to reduce this winter’s Covid and flu immunisation programme has left experts concerned about capacity. But it’s not too late to think about tackling the problems on the horizon.
Darwin Group’s Team will run the 2023 Tough Mudder in aid of Severn Hospice
Once again, Darwin Group’s team of dedicated Tough Mudders are preparing to get stuck in (and possibly just stuck) all in aid of Severn Hospice.
Major work begins as Darwin Group build new NHS surgical day case unit at St Luke’s Hospital
Major work has started at St Luke’s Hospital, in Bradford, in the delivery of a £19 million NHS surgical day case unit that will increase patient capacity.
Leicester Royal Infirmary – Discharge Lounge
When University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust needed help to relieve its winter bed pressures and reduce ambulance wait times, it turned to Darwin Group to help.
Acute Medical Unit – Wye Valley Trust
Wye Valley NHS Trust instructed Darwin Group to create a fast-track 24-bed ward, complete with five four-bed bays, four single-bed rooms, nurse bases, utility rooms, clinical disposal rooms, a pharmacy and associated ancillary spaces.
Ambulance Receiving Centre – Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital had its winter pressures eased thanks to a new Ambulance Receiving Centre (ARC) that
was constructed by Darwin Group in just
18 days onsite.
SDEC for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
When Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust recognised an urgent need to develop an effective Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) provision to reduce pressure on inpatient beds, it turned to Darwin Group for help.
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust – ICU and general ward
The Trust approached Darwin Group with an urgent need to construct new ICU accommodation and general ward facilities due to the presence of RAAC within the existing hospital estate. The Trust had the crucial requirement of managing capital expenditure within a critical timeline, which necessitated a fast-track programme and a budget that should not be exceeded.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust – Operating Theatres
When United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) identified the need for increased theatre capacity at Grantham and District Hospital to help reduce waiting times, it turned to Darwin Group for help.
Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust 60 bed ward
Darwin Group was able to utilise the company’s innovative modular build systems to provide a new 60 bed two-storey ward building featuring a mixture of single and multi-bed bays, complemented with ancillary accommodation – utility spaces, storage and staff areas – and a specialist physiotherapy space.
New NHS day case surgical unit at St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford
Leading healthcare construction firm Darwin Group is set to deliver a new multi-million pound surgical day case unit at St Luke’s Hospital after Bradford Council granted full planning permission.
Mental health bedroom of the future set a new bar for acceptable standards
A pioneering modular mental health bedroom that sets a new bar for acceptable standards has been created by leading offsite healthcare construction firm Darwin Group.
Darwin Group celebrates Telford move after expansion creates 30 new jobs
Healthcare construction specialist Darwin Group has relocated to Telford after a period of rapid expansion that has seen it create 30 new jobs so far this year.
New office, new brand – new way of thinking
We have a new office, a new brand and a new way of thinking. This is Healthcare Construction, redefined.
Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories in Basingstoke
The Trust commissioned Darwin Group to build two new cardiac catheterisation labs to replace an outdated lab and a temporary facility at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital – the first modular build of its kind in the country.
Portakabin and Darwin Group expand healthcare capability
Modular building market leader Portakabin has today announced the acquisition of healthcare modular buildings specialist Darwin Group in a move that will offer significant benefits to healthcare providers across the UK.
Combining the modular knowledge, scale and financial strength of York-headquartered Portakabin with the specialist healthcare expertise of Darwin Group will now offer healthcare providers both temporary and permanent building solutions to cover all future clinical and non-clinical requirements.
New ward and ICU wins project of the year award
On Thursday 12th May, Health, Estates and Facilities Management Association (HEFMA), hosted its annual award ceremony in Milton Keynes. AGH Solutions (Airedale NHS Foundation Trust) was awarded ‘Project of the Year’ at the awards for their £15m modular build project that Darwin Group Ltd is delivering.
The project includes a new 15-bed intensive care unit (ICU) and 30-bed ward onsite at Airedale Hospital. AGH Solutions worked hard with Darwin Group Ltd to deliver the project designed to tackle the RAAC risk, the remedial works necessary to keep the building safe, and the development of a 3500m2 ICU and 30-bed ward, which is the first known all-electric inpatient unit in the NHS.
Older Adult Mental Healthcare Modular Accommodation
Darwin Group, has handed over a 1,198m2 modular mental health ward for Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust on the St. Peter’s Hospital campus in Chertsey, Surrey. Guided by HTM and HBN requirements, the building was developed with the Trust to provide inpatients with a more modern and therapeutic environment.
Procure23 | Crown Commercial Service’s Construction Works and Associated Services 2/Procure23 Framework
Darwin Group Ltd has become the only Modular, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) design and build main contractor to be named on the ProCure23 (P23) lots of Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Framework. ProCure23 lots is the fourth generation of the ProCure route to market for the provision of design and construction services for the delivery of NHS capital projects with an estimated cumulative value of £9bn over its four-year lifespan.