University Hospitals Birmingham Ward Expansion Programme
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Location: Birmingham
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Sector: Health
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Service: Regional Building, Engineering
Awarded to Tilbury Douglas via the P22 Framework, this project for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT) comprises the complex refurbishment and redevelopment of multiple wards located at three separate hospital sites across Birmingham. The works formed part of the governments COVID-19 surge response to increase bed space across the NHS.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Ward Expansion was the largest project of the three sites with a contractual requirement to provide 70 beds across three floors. Works included:
- Redevelopment of 3x elderly care wards and 2x chemotherapy day case wards
- Refurbishment of existing ward and office areas
- Strip out and demolition of the existing facility
- Asbestos removal
- M&E fit out
- Provision of two structural steel plant decks.
Good Hope Hospital Ward Expansion was a modern methods of construction (MMC) project and included:
- Enabling works
- Construction of link to existing ward
- Relocation of existing MRI scanner
- Installation of drainage foundations and diversion of existing drainage.
Heartlands Hospital Ward Expansion, similar to Good Hope comprised the enabling works for a new build modular ward as well as two new link bridges.
At a glance...
£15.1m
Project value
February 2023
Completion date
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Client
Challenges and solutions
Due to the rapid nature of the whole Ward Expansion project, the scope of each individual project was not defined when we started on site. Owing to this, a key factor of the scheme was handling multiple client changes in a timely manner and working with the Trust to contain the ever-evolving scope.
The programme of works for each scheme was also being developed and altered as the scope changed, requiring weekly meetings with the whole project team. With the scope evolving and additional works added, naturally the budget was also evolving. We adopted an open book approach with the Trust and the rest of the client team throughout all phases, providing regular cost updates to the client Quantity Surveyor.
With this scheme being delivered in a live hospital environment, it was critical to work closely with the Trust and all stakeholders to ensure the safe delivery of the project, whilst also ensuring minimal disruption to the hospital.
Our Project Manager held weekly meetings with the Trust and staff who were working one level above and one below us, to ensure all works were planned and sequenced to provide certainty there would be no disruption to the day-to-day running of the wards. We also completed all noisy works to a schedule agreed with the Trust and adjacent wards.
Added value
The success of this project relied heavily on collaboration between all parties on site. One key success factor was working closely with McAvoy Construction who installed the new modular wards. The Tilbury Douglas team liaised with the McAvoy team daily to ensure the successful delivery of critical path items, ensuring the foundations were ready for the installation of the module. The design of each element was developed/completed in tandem with McAvoy construction during the preconstruction phase.
As well as McAvoy, extensive collaboration was required with other Trust contractors on site. As we built the foundations in readiness for the modules to be installed, RD Jukes on behalf of the Trust pulled in additional power cables and built an additional transformer base.
During the finishing phase of external works, Hob Days widened the road on behalf of the Trust allowing room for four contractors on a small site, whilst the Trust pedestrian access was maintained at all times.
This successful collaboration was achieved through weekly meetings, the review of each other’s designs and regular engagement with the Trust and end users as required.
Our partners
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M&E Engineer: Tilbury Douglas Engineering
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Architect: RPS
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Structural Engineer: Couch Consulting