CONSTRUCTION AND REFURBISHMENT
The need to invest in the theatre space often has to be balanced with tight budgets.
out on others, avoiding the need to reschedule appointments or force patients to travel to another hospital for a procedure.
Collaborating with Estates personnel Another important consideration for plans to minimise disruption to patients is the potential contact with those carrying out works. While this can’t always be completely prevented, experienced contractors will be able to collaborate with Estates Departments and other stakeholders to establish a bespoke strategy for minimising contractor-patient interface. This includes providing site access
through separate corridors to those used by patients, or – where this is not possible – utilising airtight plastic and drywall hoarding to fully divide working spaces on a temporary basis, complete with secure access and appropriate signage. As well as segregating the space, this acts as a noise and dust barrier to protect the requirement for theatres to be calm, sterile spaces for both patient and staff comfort and safety. Measures like these can be discussed during the planning stage of a theatre space upgrade or expansion project, and subsequently built into the commissioning programme. These work on a client- by-client basis, and can therefore be tailored to the individual requirements of a project or the wider hospital, with various methods of implementation, including soft launches. There are a variety of solutions available for overcoming challenges relating to theatre space issues in hospitals for NHS Trusts looking to reduce patient waiting lists quickly and cost-effectively. Working in collaboration with a specialist contractor and a trusted supply chain offers significant value through the promise of expert advice, guidance, and delivery, which – when combined with the knowledge of hospital Estates Departments, allows projects to be delivered right first time – on time and on budget.
68 Health Estate Journal March 2024
Novus says ‘steps must be taken to future-proof theatre spaces to provide practical permanent solutions’.
Macclesfield District General Hospital Over a 12-week period, Novus Property Solutions utilised its experience in the healthcare sector to successfully deliver a multiple-phase theatre refurbishment for Macclesfield District General Hospital, part of East Cheshire NHS Trust’s estate. The aim of the refurbishment was to increase the range and complexity of surgeries it can offer through upgrading three of its existing theatres. This included making the theatres suitable for orthopaedic surgeries by installing the latest ultraclean ventilation canopies, while also improving the energy- efficiency of the space. In order to achieve this, Novus carried out a wide scope of work, including the installation of new MAT ECO-flow 2800 ultraclean ventilation canopies, surgical panels and lighting, and associated steelwork. This installation required mechanical and electrical alterations, new ceilings, and new floorings and decoration throughout – all of which were delivered
by Novus’s expert team. It was essential that minimal disruption was caused by this project, and in order to maintain the theatre space’s live nature, the upgrade programme was split into three phases. This, combined with Novus’ on-time delivery of each phase, allowed two theatres to remain operational throughout the 12 weeks, which was crucial in eliminating the need for the Trust to reschedule appointments.
Hoardfast airtight system Several measures were implemented for infection control, including a Hoardfast airtight system, and scheduling the rebalancing and testing of airflow into the programme before shutting down the ventilation system for the next phase. Ongoing communication played a vital role in the successful delivery of this three- stage refurbishment, resulting in Novus’s delivery of first-class theatre facilities on time, on budget, and to the client’s complete satisfaction.
Lee Spencer and Novus Property Solutions Lee Spencer joined Novus Property Solutions in 2022 with
over 25 years’ experience in the construction sector, having begun his career a tradesperson. He has since expanded his skillset and advanced his career, with a reputation across the industry for building client relations and delivering operational excellence.
Over the past 20 years, his career has seen a particular focus on contract management, providing invaluable expertise for his current role as head of Operations at Novus. Lee oversees contracts across a variety of sectors, including healthcare, with recent projects having included schemes for The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Countess of Chester Hospital, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, and Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Since his appointment, Novus has merged its supply chain to cover all workstreams, ‘providing resilience, certainty of delivery, technical expertise, and value for money’ for clients across the healthcare sector.
Novus Property Solutions was incorporated in 2013 following the restructuring of Seddon Property Services, part of the Seddon Group family business, with a 127-year history. The £180 million+ business is a specialist in planned property maintenance, building refurbishment, compliance, and decarbonisation services.
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 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85
