KIER Construction Scotland has been appointed to take forward a trio of landmark projects as part of the Scottish Government’s plans to improve infrastructure in the mental health sector.

The firm will manage NHS Grampian refurbishments in up to six acute mental health admission wards as the SNP plans to enhance the clinical environment for patients classed as being at high risk of self-harm.

Kier will carry out a £6 million refurbishment programme at the Royal Cornhill hospital in Aberdeen and Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.

Kier has also been appointed to develop the designs for a £4.8m extension and refurbishment programme for the existing facility at Rowanbank Clinic, part of Stobhill hospital in Glasgow, and a contract to design, build and commission a £3.7m, 12 bedded National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service (NSAIS) in Irvine.

Judith McLenan, NHS Grampian mental health and learning disability services business manager, said: “This is the largest project the service has undertaken since the Clerkseat Building opened at Royal Cornhill Hospital approximately 30 years ago. The project will significantly improve and modernise the physical environment.

“It involves a major refurbishment of the building, the installation of newer, safer specialist ligature-reduction and anti-barricade mental health fittings and fixtures and improvement in the lines of sight for patient and staff accessibility and enhancement of clinical observation in practice.”

Ligature reductions and refurbishments will also be applied to adult mental health in patient services in the Moray Health and Social Care Partnership.

The latest contracts will build on a number of healthcare projects that Kier is currently involved with, including a new elective care facility at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank.

The company is also carrying out backlog maintenance work and ward refurbishments with NHS Grampian in healthcare facilities in Aberdeen, Inverness, Paisley, Inverclyde and Greenock.

Brian McQuade, who is the managing director for Kier Construction Scotland, said: “Kier has a leading reputation of delivering first-class facilities in the health sector.

“These latest wins demonstrate significant investment in the area of mental health by Scottish Government and we look forward to working closely with NHS Grampian, Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Ayrshire & Arran to deliver these enhanced facilities.

He added: “Not only will these excellent new amenities benefit the patients, they will also lead to job creation and training opportunities, helping to support both the local and Scottish economies.”

Kier Construction, part of the Kier Group, has been named as one of five principal supply chain partners on the NHS’ £600m Health Facilities Scotland framework for Capital Development in Scotland.