The new Pembury Hospital will provide all inpatient accommodation in single en-suite bedrooms; making it the first NHS acute hospital of its kind in the UK. The hospital design incorporates the concept of hospitals within a hospital. This supports the separation of planned and emergency patient journeys and of visitors and the movement of goods and waste.

Construction of the new hospital on the site of the existing general hospital in Pembury will begin in April 2008, once a programme of site improvement works, currently being undertaken by Laing O'Rourke under a separate Procure21 agreement, has been completed.  Construction will continue in two phases, with the main hospital buildings reaching completion before existing accommodation at the top of the site is cleared.

The Pembury Hospital has been uniquely designed by Anshen and Allen incorporating into the design features for patient safety and effective infection control. Design elements include separate planned and emergency areas to reduce the risk of infection, in-patient bedrooms designed to minimise falls and the separation of inpatient and outpatient facilities to address issues of patient privacy and dignity.  With the aim of delivering Trust objectives, the new hospital has been developed to fit with the local rural setting, with patient accommodation placed to take advantage of the woodland views and southerly aspects.

Glenn Douglas, Trust Chief Executive, said: "This agreement signals the start of something new and exciting in NHS care and we are delighted that the people of West Kent and East Sussex will be at the forefront of that."

Trust Chairman George Jenkins said: "I am delighted to conclude the contract, which will ensure a continuous development of excellent care for our patients into the future.  This is a beacon NHS development for the population of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells."

David Hardy, Director of John Laing Investments said: "The Consortium is delighted to be involved in such a landmark health project which will provide outstanding healthcare facilities for the people of West Kent and East Sussex".

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Vicky Ferries/ Matthew Moth/ Charles Reynolds, Madano Partnership

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7593 4000

Christine Jones, Communications Manager at John Laing plc

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7901 3290

Notes to Editors:

About John Laing

John Laing plc is a specialist provider of facilities through public private partnerships with a long-term perspective and approach. The company manages and delivers 64 projects from planning and funding through to design, construction and operation. It is actively involved in the management of a wide range of health, education, police, rail, roads and special purpose government facilities.  http://www.laing.com/

About Interserve

Interserve Plc (http://www.interserve.com/) is a services, maintenance and building group. It creates buildings and other structures for clients in the public and private sectors, maintains many different types of buildings, the operational systems that support them and a range of plant and equipment in specialist fields, and co-ordinates a host of background services to keep its clients' operations running smoothly and efficiently while they concentrate on their core business. Interserve is based in the UK and is a FTSE 250 company. It employs 26,000 people worldwide and has revenue of £1.4billion.

About Laing O'Rourke

Laing O'Rourke is the UK's largest privately-owned construction company, with over 27,000 employees, operating across Europe, the Middle East and Asia and Australasia.  Through a directly employed labour force, the group delivers some of the most challenging construction projects in the world, including Heathrow Terminal 5, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (St Pancras) and a number of iconic international developments in the Middle East, India and Australia.  http://www.laingorourke.com/ <http://www.laingorourke.com/>