HEALTHCARE CONSTRUCTION
diverting the HV cable, but we did this over a Saturday night, and the following morning, to minimise disruption. “A big advantage of offsite build is
that the modules could be assembled while we were preparing the ground. The modular build company began its work in late September, with the schedule stipulating that the modules should be in situ by around 20 December last year.” In all, Nigel Thompson explained, there were 42 modules to install (31 ward bays, four for linkways, six plant deck bays, and one internal staircase), and 11 separate plant decks, for fitting to the roof, all of which had to be carefully craned into position.
Link corridor He explained: “Four of the modules form a link corridor that connects the Reception in the new ward at one end with an entrance to the existing hospital at the other. Our task installing and fitting out the modules was considerably simplified by the fact that much of the first-fix electrical work had been completed in the factory, leaving mainly mechanical and electrical services work to complete on site. Once the modules were in place, we applied a temporary seal to make them watertight while the permanent Firestone roof sealing works were completed – a rubber membrane with a 25-year warranty.” I asked Nigel Thompson how Health
Spaces had ensured the flexibility and adaptability the Trust required for the spaces inside the building. He explained: “Health Spaces’ design team, led by Jaime Bishop, developed initial ideas for the Concept Ward early in 2022 after meeting the client team at the Trust. As discussions progressed, we looked more at how the building’s use might evolve, and how the hospitals of the future might look, which informed how the plans developed. “While we believe strongly in the benefits of standardisation, we also look to tailor the modular-built facilities we create to the client brief. We usually begin with an outline plan, before creating 1 to 200 scale drawings that provide more detail. Here – as we did on this project – we will involve clinicians, nurses, Estates personnel, and many other Trust staff to get their feedback. Next, we proceed to a 1 to 50 scale plan, which includes considerable detail – to the extent that you feel you could almost walk into the clinical space, and touch and feel parts of the room. Our approach is a bespoke one to standardisation. We also use BIM on all projects. “Take the two isolation rooms in this new
ward, for example,” he added. “Instead of entering these straight from the corridor – as with the other patient rooms – we have built in access lobbies with the option of positive or negative pressure. While standard air change rates in the majority of the single rooms are 6 per hour, here we
The James Paget Hospital team, from left to right: Mark Flynn, Harry Hicks, Steve Balls, Dominic Giles, Enya Oakley, Paula Miller, and Diane Goodwin.
have tailored the ventilation to provide 15 air changes per hour. Working closely with the architects, the sub-contractors, and the various Trust stakeholders from the start – whether consultants, other clinicians, nurses, Infection Control personnel, or the Estates team – with regular progress meetings to address any issues – has underlined the benefits of collaborative working.”
Managing the delivery and installation Nigel Thompson added: “The biggest challenge on what has proven a generally straightforward and well-worked project was the speed of delivery required, and managing the modules’ installation due to their size – all competed to a tight schedule over seven days. We had some nice plaudits on how smoothly we managed this.” Nigel Thompson explained that Health
Spaces is a strong advocate of offsite build – the speed with which this new building has been created underlining why. He said: “The tight programme made offsite volumetric construction the obvious solution. While we were undertaking the groundworks, the modular supplier was building the modules, bringing a massive time saving. There is also evidence that offsite building significantly reduces embodied carbon emissions, and there is considerably less waste, because you are building off site in a controlled environment, which also cuts labour costs, and addresses health and safety concerns.”
HTM-compliant He continued: “At the James Paget we have focused on building a really high- quality, fully HTM-compliant, ward with excellent materials and finishes, and with
‘‘
the patient and staff experience, privacy and dignity, modern communication and other technology, infection control, and durability, all high on the agenda. We are still looking at finishing touches such as incorporating further artwork to enhance the interior. The linkway corridor features photographs showing how the hospital has evolved over the past 40 years. It’s been exciting to see the new ward block come to fruition, and I hope it will mark a positive new chapter in the hospital’s history.” Mark Flynn, director of Strategic Projects
at James Paget University Hospital, added: “Constructing this new ward is an exciting and important project for the Trust – and brings two benefits. Firstly, it will give us additional capacity so we can continue a programme of precautionary remedial works to our hospital roof in ward areas. In addition, by incorporating the latest specifications, it will provide us with valuable information to assist with ward design within our new hospital, for the benefit of both patients and staff.” He added: “We felt it was essential to
create a new decant ward so we could decant existing wards and other clinical areas to allow us to progress with our RAAC panel remediation in parts of the hospital. RAAC is a lightweight concrete construction known to be defective, with which there have been issues at some hospitals and schools. Here we are in the process of mitigating the effects via a remediation programme being undertaken in stages, with the support of structural engineers. “In creating the new ward, we wanted
to ensure it could be part of our new and permanent buildings as part of our masterplan for our new estate. We also wanted to challenge ourselves on research
A big advantage of offsite build is that the modules could be assembled while we were preparing the ground. The modular build company began its work in late September, with the schedule stipulating that the modules should be in situ by around 20 December last year
Nigel Thompson, Health Spaces August 2023 Health Estate Journal 51
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
