The new Emergency Care Building at Derriford Hospital has reached its highest point, marking a milestone that will transform treatment for patients from Devon and Cornwall.
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) has celebrated the completion of the main structural framework of the building, with construction now moving into its next phase.
The multi-million pound development will provide modern, purpose-built facilities for urgent and emergency care for people across Plymouth, South Devon and Cornwall.
A traditional "topping out" ceremony brought together NHS staff, construction teams, designers and supply chain partners to mark the latest stage of the project.
The building is due to be completed in April 2029 and will feature four clinical floors designed to improve the environment in which emergency care is delivered.
The project is particularly significant for Cornwall, where Derriford acts as a major referral centre for specialist and emergency treatment for patients across the county.
Stuart Windsor, Future Hospital Programme Director at UHP, said the milestone represented an important moment for healthcare across the region.
"The topping out of the Emergency Care Building marks a significant milestone for the programme and for the future of healthcare in Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall," he said. "When it opens, this new building will transform the way in which Emergency Care is provided and will provide our clinical teams with the space and state of the art equipment to provide excellent care."
He said the investment would have an impact beyond healthcare, while thanking those who had helped bring the project to this stage.
"The New Hospital Programme funding for this phase of our estate development represents a huge investment in Plymouth, and the effects will be felt beyond the healthcare that is provided when the building opens," he said.
The development is being delivered by construction partner Willmott Dixon, with specialist consultants and supply chain companies also involved.
Stephen Ford, Project Director at Willmott Dixon, said the milestone reflected the collaboration between the organisations involved.
"We are proud to be playing our part in delivering a hospital that will serve the people of the Plymouth and the wider Devon & Cornwall region," he said.
Charlotte Taylor, Senior Responsible Officer for the Department of Health and Social Care, said the building would support NHS staff caring for patients across the region.
"This project demonstrates the progress being made to deliver modern, purpose-built facilities that will support staff to provide high-quality urgent and emergency care for patients across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall," she said.
Health Minister Karin Smyth said patients and NHS staff across the South West deserved facilities that were "safe, efficient and fit for the future".
The project forms part of the Government's New Hospital Programme and is intended to provide NHS teams with improved buildings, equipment and technology.
While the building is still more than two years from completion, UHP said reaching full height marked a significant step towards creating a new emergency care facility for patients across Devon and Cornwall.
Derriford Emergency Care Building Reaches Full Height