Helping Hospital’s thrive

The Brief

As part of the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust’s Hospitals of the Future initiative, a large programme of works needed to be undertaken by a specialist construction company who is expert in creating and remodelling dedicated hospital spaces.

As a matter of covid urgency, and to accommodate the growing patient capacity at Rotherham Hospital, the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust needed crucial refurbishment, remodelling, expansion, and construction works to several areas throughout the hospital.

The Solution

The Rotherham Hospital project was split into several phases and put out to tender. I&G were successful through both quality and price, but mostly this was based on past-experience in this sector and how we demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the required works across all seven schemes.

During the pre-construction period, we chaired the design team meetings and provided essential detail to allow the build programme to be managed around the constricted timescales, offering quality alternatives and solutions to allow the complicated phasing process to be completed in order, on time and to budget.

The Challenges

Working within covid construction guidelines, as well as strict hospital guidelines to manage covid cases,
Working within a live and sometimes sensitive hospital environment,
Overcoming challenging elements to designs across several the schemes,
Logistical challenges when accessing (or lack of access to) certain areas of the hospital,
The safe removal of waste materials,
Noise proved to be a significant issue when undertaking structural alteration works and installing equipment – had to be mindful of critically ill patients and disturbance to staff caring for them,
Some of the schemes were subject to a programme of asbestos removal in isolated areas,
Tight deadlines,
Covid-related delays to materials and labour shortage,
Increased patient footfall due to the works being carried out in the height of the pandemic,
Site compounds within the hospital needed to be sealed efficiently so as not to affect patients.

The Results

Working in close collaboration with the client to plan, adapt, and put measures in place to combat and reduce the spread of covid-19, as well as getting each of the schemes completed on time, has meant that we have built a strong, long-standing relationship with the Trust.

Wellbeing has been a focus for the Trust and I&G throughout the programme of works, meaning that the new areas created by I&G provide Rotherham Hospital with:

A brand-new discharge lounge which not only provides extra beds for patients, but by making use of previously void outdoor space, patients can enjoy fresh air and comfort whilst they wait,
Individual cubicles for patient privacy in Resus,
A more covid-safe hospital environment,
An exclusive outdoor space dedicated to the health and wellbeing of the hospital staff,
Newly created drop-off points closer to the Emergency Department entrance for ambulances,
Due to the number of factories in close proximity to the hospital, a unique de-contamination unit outside the ED has also been created.

The Projects

Discharge Lounge

This is a purpose-built facility to assist with patient flow through the hospital. The previous lounge could only accommodate seated patients, the new facility now has space for four beds and seating for 12 patients. The location allows for easy access to transport facilities, as well as an outdoor courtyard and seating for patients and relatives to enjoy.

Used previously as a hospital library, the Trust wanted to provide a designated ward for the discharge of patients, and their experience towards the end of their care from other wards. The area was located on the ground floor and accessed through the main working corridor.

Emergency Department and ED Resus

This part of the project required a sensitive approach as this was very much front of house and at the heart of the main hospital activity during the pandemic. The work consisted of constructing a new entrance, treatment rooms and glazing upgrades to also include the external improvements and making good of areas.

A new canopy was added to the entrance of the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, increasing patient comfort and ensuring appropriate social distancing throughout the covid-19 pandemic. It also created space for a new rapid assessment room within the entrance.

The existing A&E entrance also needed to be extended to create a new drop-off point, an internal one-way system, separate consultation rooms and a dedicated area for chemical spillages to be dealt with on site. It required a sensitive approach as this was very much front of house, at the heart of the main hospital activity during the height of the pandemic.

As a matter of covid urgency, new, individual cubicles were also added to the Resuscitation department, allowing patients more privacy and boosting infections control measures for patients and staff.

Ward B6

This was the largest of the scheme undertaken to a section of the hospital that was inaccessible, requiring a clear and considered access strategy to enable the contract works to come in through the external façade. In addition, the external areas underwent a significant programme of improvement with window replacements and external repairs.

The full refurbishment of the ward created several additional high dependency beds as well as dedicated areas for staff to don their PPE and enter critical care units safely. This ward is used as surge capacity for critical care, and allows for a dedicated area to treat covid-19 positive patients needing intensive care.

Wellbeing Garden and Woodland Walk

Funded by a grant from NHS Charities Together, this formed part of a community led project to offer NHS staff and visitors an outside area to sit and enjoy in between the pressures of the daily routine.

The scheme was fully supported by I&G and its supply chain, and this resulted in generous donations in time and materials from all involved to create a well-deserved external escape. Read more about it here: Dedicated space for wellbeing created for staff at Rotherham Hospital - I&G Contractors (iandgltd.co.uk)

The Woodland Walk makes the most of the green space around the hospital and encourages colleagues, patients, and visitors to get some fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors.

Breathing space

This area consisted of the internal improvements and purpose-built lift shaft in an extremely sensitive are of the building that cares for patient treatment for respiratory related illnesses. This was challenging because the site compound had to be sealed so dust could not escape into the live ward adjacent. In addition, an internal pool hoist, and associated structural works were run parallel from the same site location.