HBG's work on Essex Cardiothoracic Centre at Basildon University Hospital shortlisted for leading healthcare awards

The £60m centre, which provides specialist investigation and treatment for patients with heart and lung disease, was delivered by HBG in April. It treated over 60 patients in its first two weeks.

Funded through the framework agreement for health projects known as ProCure21, the centre has been independently assessed as environmentally excellent (using the NEAT ratings) and is energy efficient.

Rod Stiles, Construction Director for HBG Construction South East, said: 'We listened to the views of patients and the clinical professionals when we created this centre so that its design contributes to its purpose. It is a real healing environment. We are very proud to have built this specialist and valuable centre for the people of Essex and delighted to be nominated for best contractor of the year.'

HBG held joint training centres and workshops with the Trust, and they developed communications teamwork, benchmarking and decision making together.

Trevor Smith, the Trust’s Director of Finance, said: 'The additional planning and specification work by the team at the front end of the project has clearly helped in the successful delivery of the project.'

The Department of Health approved the business case in December 2004 and work began less than two months later. The project remained on programme until its completion in April 2007 and the Centre opened on 1 July.

The centre has facilities for 100 patients, including many individual bedrooms, employs over 400 staff and has the capacity to perform 1,400 surgical procedures and 2,500 cardiology procedures each year.

The winner of the Building Better Healthcare awards will be announced in November.

Further information: Mark Slattery, Press and Media Manager, HBG UK Ltd, 020 8338 2341.