Willmott Dixon is one of two new faces on the framework alongside the Healthcare Partnership Solutions consortium containing Miller Construction.

Health minister Simon Burns announced the six successful groups today who will help upgrade hospitals and save the NHS over £200m in procurement costs.

The new framework will streamline and simplify the process for NHS Trusts when procuring a construction company to carry out hospital refurbishments or new builds.

NHS Trusts can now choose from:

• Balfour Beatty

• Healthcare Partnership Solutions

• Integrated Health Projects

• Interserve Project Services

• Kier Regional

• Willmott Dixon Holdings

The decision will come as a bitter blow to the four firms dumped from the existing framework.

The new list builds on the existing Procure 21 framework, which, although voluntary, has become the most popular procurement route for NHS capital schemes and has delivered successful projects, with a value of almost £2 billion.

Health Minister Simon Burns said: “The benefits of Procure 21+ are clear – a streamlined system will mean that NHS organisations will be able to concentrate on delivering patient care and improving outcomes.

“The new system will cut bureaucratic waste and allow the NHS to reinvest savings directly into services for patients.

“Hospital refurbishments under this system will be quicker and more cost effective, ensuring that patients receive their treatment in a clean, safe and efficient environment – as they would expect.”

Under the new framework, work can start on projects within six weeks, saving the NHS at least six months in the pre-construction period.

The appointments will take effect when the new framework commences on 1 October 2010 and will run for a six-year period.