Lego method aids hospital

THE city's newest hospital is being built more quickly than normal thanks to a unique method of construction.

Huge parts of the replacement 43 million Royal Victoria Hospital are being shipped in from off-site, health chiefs said, saving time and space.

Wall panels with windows are made elsewhere and incorporated straight on to the land at the Western General location, rather than being built on the site itself.

Sue Gardiner, clients service project manager, said: "That's why we have seen the two- storey structure growing rapidly over the last month. As it is engineered and manufactured off-site, the contractors can snap it together like Lego."

Due to open next year, the new Royal Victoria Hospital for the elderly will have single rooms for each patient.