Staff from the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital and the Eastman Dental Hospital in London joined contractors recently to celebrate the 'topping out' of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's (UCLH) newest clinical facility, meaning it has reached the highest point of its construction.

Opening next year, the building will bring together the services currently provided at the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital (RNTENH) and Eastman Dental Hospital (EDH) currently based on the capital's Gray's Inn Road.

UCLH Chief Executive Marcel Levi and Mace Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Construction Mark Castle, ceremonially completed the highest part of the trust's new hospital on 4 July 2018.

Over the lifetime of the NHS, the two hospitals have been involved in many firsts, such as Eastman Dental Hospital setting up the first clinic for people born with teeth missing.

Levi said: 'The RNTENH and EDH both have fantastic histories. As we celebrate the seventieth birthday of the NHS, I am delighted we are investing £100 million in this new building for our patients and staff. I look forward to this new facility opening, where we will continue to improve patient care.'

Castle said: 'This is a tremendous milestone for this project, as well as a fitting moment to mark the seventieth anniversary of the NHS. It's a privilege to be able to work with UCLH to deliver a building that will make such a difference to the lives of so many people. I'm very proud of all the work the Mace team have done to get the project to this point.'

The new facility will be called the Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals.