The plans will see £80m of work to redevelop the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and an extension added to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

The Board of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust signed the deal, which will see a ward block built on the Terrell Street site behind the hospital, along with refurbishment of the Queens building, the conversion of wards in the King Edward building and the retirement of the Old Building.

Additionally, the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children is also receiving a make-over with a new extension to house paediatric burns, orthopaedics, plastic surgery and neuroscience services.

Robert Woolley, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said:  “We have worked on this redevelopment for many years and we are delighted to be signing the building contract.

“We are redeveloping our hospitals to improve the hospital environment for our patients and our staff and the new facilities will enable us to transform the ways in which services are delivered to patients.”

Scott Palmer, regional business unit leader for Laing O’Rourke, said: “Our two organisations have previously worked extremely well together on projects including the Bristol Heart Institute and we look forward to continuing that relationship on this project.”