The unit, which is due to open at the start of next year, will combine expertise from North Bristol NHS Trust and the University of Bristol which currently has its own private and NHS fertility centre at Priory Road in Clifton.

The new unit will comprise two theatres and 11 consulting/scanning rooms and a suite of embryology laboratories. All rooms will be fully equipped with state of the art equipment.

Peter Wardle, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Bristol University and Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician at Southmead, said: “We are all amazed at how quickly the building is taking shape.

“Our patients are being kept in touch with how the work is progressing through a photo display in both units and are excited by the improved facilities we will be able to offer.

“All the staff in the current Fertility Clinic and in the University Unit are working hard to make sure that the arrangements for the move to our superb new Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine go smoothly. We are all really enthusiastic about this project.”

Gill Ryan, General Manager for the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at the University of Bristol, said: “After years of planning, it is exciting to finally see the building take shape.

“We are looking forward to visiting the site next week and being involved in the fitting out of the new fertility clinic.

“Staff and patients have been consulted right from the outset and feel a real pride in this building which has been designed in partnership with the architects and builders to ensure we have a state of the art building for fertility.”

The new unit will also offer a wide range of fertility services including full fertility investigations, intra uterine insemination (IUI), IVF and ICSI. 

Fertility-related referrals will be accepted from across Bristol and the South West. NHS treatment will be subject to PCT eligibility and criteria.