CONSTRUCTION
Fast-track approach eases pressure on Walsall Trust
Oliver Hollick, Framework manager, Tilbury Douglas Engineering, Midlands and North-West Region, describes how, in recent months, the construction and engineering teams at Tilbury Douglas have worked together to deploy a fast-track MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) approach to support the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust in alleviating COVID-19 and winter-related pressures at Walsall Manor Hospital, and some of the key projects involved.
Since the pandemic started, there has been a surge in demand for rapid infrastructure solutions and delivery to help NHS estates manage increased demand on services. As one of the Principal Supply Chain Partners on the ProCure22 framework, Tilbury Douglas (formerly trading as Interserve Construction) has delivered over 10 urgent COVID-related projects to date – from wards to vaccine centres, several of which have been based in the Midlands. In recent months, both the construction and engineering teams at Tilbury Douglas have worked together to deploy a fast-track MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) approach to support the Trust at Walsall Manor Hospital in alleviating COVID-19 and winter-related pressures. As an existing partner to Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust through the new P22 Emergency Department development, we were tasked by the Trust to undertake several fast-track conversions and adaptations of existing spaces to manage increased patient volumes.
Fast-track works
The fast-track works involved the refurbishment and remodelling of the existing CMU unit into a new Integrated Assessment Hub (IAH) that includes 12 treatment bays, along with supporting accommodation such as clean and dirty utilities, a cleaners’ room, staff rest area, and an accessible WC. The works also included the provision of modular buildings that have been sited in the hospital courtyard areas, and linked to the existing ward buildings to help increase bed provision. These provide one four- bed bed bay unit, one six-bed bay unit, and two Emergency Department assessment unit cabins at the front of the Emergency Unit as a screening and triage area.
To respond in the fastest time to meet the Trust’s critical need, a modular solution proved to be the most time and cost- effective solution. This approach also
Modular units being hoisted into place. The works included the provision of modular buildings sited in the hospital courtyard areas, and linked to the existing ward buildings to help increase bed provision.
helped reduce disruption to the existing hospital site, with the modules craned into the courtyards, reducing material movement throughout the hospital compared with what would have been required with a traditional solution. To further advance the programme timescale, we adopted a hybrid solution, with the final fit-out completed on site. This enabled the construction of the buildings to commence while the design was still being completed.
Thanks from the Trust
The works were undertaken in a total of 15 weeks – from initial conversation to final handover to the Trust on 24 December 2020. Jane Longdon, Divisional director of Estates and Facilities at Walsall Healthcare Trust, said: “We would like to pass on our thanks to the Tilbury Douglas team for all of the hard work you have committed to to ensure that the additional emergency facilities were up and running when needed. You and the team need to understand that not only have you done your jobs in the construction of the facilities, but that you have competed the work in these unprecedented times when there is so much uncertainty – we can say with certainty that lives have been saved, and you and the team have been part of that lifesaving team.”
M&E considerations
The new engineering services for the development were designed to meet the requirements of the various hospital operational policies, as well as HTM/HBN guidance and relevant legislation. However, some derogations were required following a risk review, due to the speed of the scheme. The fast-track nature of the project meant that the design of the MEP services progressed as the strip-out of the existing CMU area was being undertaken, and the construction of the modular units was being undertaken off site. The first task was to ratify existing O&M information/drawings to confirm the existing services distribution and identify isolation points with Trust APs. Surveys were also undertaken to identify which services needed to be stripped out in the IAH refurbishment area, and which elements needed to be protected due to being re-used, or were serving adjacent areas such as fire alarm cables. MEP services which could be maintained or re- used were quickly identified and immediately surveyed to understand and define the scope. As an example, from an initial review of the existing O&M detail, the proposal was to re-utilise the existing electrical containment in the CMU ward area. However, upon strip-out of the
September 2021 Health Estate Journal 33
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