Leicester Nightingale Surge Ward
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Location: Leicester
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Sector: Health
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Division: Regional Building
As part of University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tilbury Douglas was directly awarded this surge project to provide additional wards as part of the government’s push to deal with the rise of Omicron cases in early 2022.
We were initially employed by NHSE&I as a delivery lead, for ES Global Ltd (ESG), an events company who have previously delivered eight Covid surge hubs. However, due to work load we assisted in multiple disciplines including design, programme, and cost management. We also incorporated some of ESG’s innovative Covid-19 approach in terms of scanners for access and egress. Following construction, works also included the decommissioning of the facility, owing to the subsequent fall in Omicron cases.
The works included refurbishment to part of the existing hospital to allow for a through-route to the new facility, and construction of a temporary 88-bed ward block comprising:
- Outpatient facilities
- Bedhead provision including medi-gas and oxygen
- Dirty and clean utilities
- Kitchens
- Welfare and shower facilities
- Reception and waiting areas
At a glance...
£4.7m
Project value
February 2022
Completion date
University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust
Client
Challenges and solutions
Due to the urgent nature of the works, we were instructed by the client on 4 January 2022 and works commenced on 10 January 2022. This allowed us one week, not only to mobilise a team but to assist the Trust in preparing the site.
We inspected the hospital at 10pm on the Sunday before works were due to start to ensure the major car park area, where the temporary ward was being located was clear and ready for construction.
The Tilbury Douglas team and subcontractors worked out-of-hours, including weekends, for the entirety of the contract period, a demonstration of our commitment to handing over the facility within programme.
There were multiple design considerations to suit the estate of Leicester General Hospital and the needs of UHL and their end user with the increase of cases at the time. The initial design did not allow space, so we reconfigured the layout to relocate WC/shower pods.
Despite the speed of construction, there were zero defects at handover and quality met the HTM standards, the same standards that would be met within a permanent healthcare facility.
Our partners
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M&E Engineer: Fusion/William Bailey
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Architect: HKS