The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease has been officially opened
A Hull construction company says it is honoured to have helped to create a fitting tribute to rugby league legend Rob Burrow, who died last year after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease. The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease has been officially opened at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, with the sporting star’s family in attendance at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Rob passed away last June at the age of 41, five years after he was first diagnosed with the cruel condition. And construction specialist I&G, part of Hull based Sewell Group, started work on the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease the following day. Now complete, the NHS says the building is the first facility of its kind to offer specialist services for MND patients under one roof.
The centre, which is run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, provides a calm and peaceful environment for patients and it was designed in partnership with the hospital’s clinical staff, patients, their families and the wider MND community. Over the past ten years referrals to the Yorkshire MND service have doubled, with 40 new referrals each year.
The centre was made possible through fundraising by Leeds Hospitals Charity who raised an incredible £6.8m to fund the centre. Those involved in its creation say the centre marks a fitting tribute to Rob’s memory, recognising the campaigning he carried out in support of MND awareness after his diagnosis.
Mark Boothby, joint managing director of I&G, said: “We’ve built and refurbished many health facilities over recent years and they’re some of the most rewarding projects our team gets to work on, because we can see the huge impact they have on the lives of patients and staff.
Get all the latest headlines sent straight to your inbox for free with our newsletter. You can stay up to date with all the breaking news and top stories as they happen in Hull and East Yorkshire by clicking this link
“The new Rob Burrow Centre for MND creates a sense of community and an environment that meets the needs of patients, families and staff and we’re honoured to have played a part in bringing this to life in Rob’s memory and for the entire MND community.”
The new building is a flagship centre covering more than 155,000 square feet, with a striking design that includes a light and spacious atrium, wheelchair-accessible parking, and newly landscaped gardens. I&G said the building was constructed using modern methods of construction, with structurally insulated panels being manufactured offsite before being shipped to Leeds to be put in place. This method means building can be constructed more quickly, more efficiently in a more sustainable process than traditional ways.
The company procured the scheme from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust through the Procure Partnerships Framework.
Natalie Palframan, key account manager (North) at Procure Partnerships Framework, said: “We were privileged to support Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in delivering this pioneering health facility. Early engagement and close collaboration between the Trust, I&G and the wider project team were essential to the project’s success by ensuring the programme could be delivered at pace.
“The result is a truly special building that stands as a tribute to Rob Burrow’s legacy and will have a lasting impact on the lives of people living with MND, their families, and the clinical teams who support them every day.”
Want to stay up to date with all the latest event news that’s happening in and around Hull? Well look no further. Sign up to our Never Dull in Hull newsletter and get all the latest news on gigs, food and days out sent straight to your inbox