Construction work has started on a new transplant centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB).

Funded by the QEHB Charity, the building is set to become a national centre of excellence for organ transplantation in Birmingham, and a one-stop shop for patients undergoing organ transplants.

The facility will house seven clinic rooms, multiple patient treatment rooms, welfare space, and five staff offices.

And patients will receive specialist care all in one place – including pre-treatment consultations, additional fitness classes before surgery, patient support groups, and rehabilitation classes after surgery.

Matt Metcalfe, hospital executive director for the QEHB, said: “Organ transplantation offers our patients new hope, and aims to get patients back to doing what they love.

“We are proud of our clinicians’ vision to deliver a new centre that will enhance the experience for patients as they await a life-changing transplant and we are grateful to all colleagues and partners working to design, build, and provide, what will be a highly-renowned centre, not just for our own region, but nationally and internationally.”

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is one of just two UK hospitals that carry out all four organ transplants – heart, liver, kidney and lung, and one of Europe’s most-active transplant centres.

Clinical care consultant, Nick Murphy, said of the centre: “Patients can come in and see their physician, the surgeon, the transplant co-ordinators, their psychologist, and their dietician, all on the same day, and in one location. This will take away a huge amount of stress for patients, and therefore speed up their recovery time.”

Researchers and world-leading clinicians will also be co-located within the facility, all of whom are at the forefront of research and technology used to extend the success of transplantation and improve patient outcomes.

To mark its 150th anniversary, A Edmonds & Co became a major donor to help develop the Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham, contributing around £1m to the appeal.

Managing director, David Edmonds, said, “A Edmonds & Co has been in Birmingham since 1870 and always supports local causes.

“It gives us great pleasure as a Birmingham employer to be able to provide funding for the local hospital thanks to the support of our staff and customers.”

Rob Lashford, divisional director at Speller Metcalfe, which will carry out the construction work, added: “We’re delighted to begin work on the new Transplant Centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

“We’re aware of the important work the staff and researchers already undertake, and recognise the positive impact this specialist facility will make to the services they provide.”

The scheme has been designed by Archus and is set to open in January.