The Mott MacDonald Group has been appointed as clinical advisers for the redevelopment of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Bermuda Hospitals Board yesterday said the group was selected following a "robust procurement process" after seven experienced firms submitted bids.

According to BHB, Mott MacDonald has provided consulting, technical services and programme management in the healthcare sector around the world for more than 20 years.

It adds that, in the UK, Mott MacDonald is a preferred provider to public-private partnership (PPP) healthcare projects similar to the KEMH Redevelopment Project.

BHB CEO David Hill said in a statement: "The renovation and new building project presents BHB with an exciting opportunity to improve our patients' environment and experience.

"Mott MacDonald will team up with a highly-qualified group of BHB healthcare professionals to look at how we can make our workflow and clinical processes even better.

"Clinical advisory work is vital at this initial stage in the overall redevelopment project. Many decisions affecting services, clinical design and function must be made as we go out to the international PPP market to look for a private partner who will help us build the long-term, sustainable acute health care facilities Bermuda needs.

"Mott MacDonald is a recognised leader in the clinical advisory field, with a proven track record in PPP healthcare projects."

BHB staff and Mott McDonald will form a Clinical Advisory Team, while input will be sought from patient groups, healthcare agencies and professionals.

Based on this input, CAT will produce clinical output specifications which detail how BHB delivers future healthcare services in line with international best practice.

BHB Chairman Herman Tucker stated: "The board's mandate is to deliver high quality, patient-centred care.

"Improving the patient journey through our acute care hospital is at the heart of what CAT will do. This collaborative effort between Mott MacDonald and BHB will co-produce a road map for our clinical services, which meet international best practice.

"The clinical output specifications that CAT produces are very important, because they will ultimately drive the function of the 50 percent more space we need to build, influence the bricks-and-mortar design of the new facilities and ensure a patient-centred experience."