Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, works involved a significant extension to the existing Radiotherapy department in Leicester Royal’s Osborne Building to deliver a secure treatment facility as part of the improved health care provision for local people in the region. The £3.5m scheme commenced in the summer of 2022 and completed in August this year, with construction comprising two blocks – a radiotherapy bunker, control room and plant room, and an ancillary accommodation block, both of which connect to the existing Osborne Building via link corridors. The treatment area incorporates high security controls to prevent unauthorised access and provide a safe environment. A specialist force protection engineering consultant was appointed to review the structural design of the room and the building was also reviewed by the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA), to ensure compliance. As part of the new building’s green credentials, 32 PV panels were installed on the roof to provide power to the facility, alongside air source heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling through the building, generating fewer carbon emissions. To safely deliver construction works within the fully operational hospital site, a site-specific traffic management plan was implemented to minimise disruption and provide safe access and egress to local residents, hospital visitors and staff. A full-time logistics manager was appointed onsite to assist with the running of the car park, deliveries and to maintain a safe environment. A web-based system was utilised to plan and monitor materials deliveries in order to avoid congestion on the surrounding road networks of the busy hospital site. Social value was incorporated into the project with the site team instigating several initiatives including over 20 hours of litter picking which took place in the surrounding area to improve the environment and help make for a better experience for hospital visitors. A local supply chain was utilised on site which resulted in 77% of local labour being sourced within a 40-mile radius and 94% of all construction waste was recycled locally. As part of G F Tomlinson’s other social value commitments, the contractor provided work experience for a local student studying at a nearby college to provide them with practical experience on site.  Six apprentices were also allocated to the site for a combined total of 113 weeks. During their time at the radiotherapy facility, they had the opportunity to monitor the programme and plan works on site, manage quality assurance, supervise health and safety, and assist with the traffic management within the car park, as well as attending colleges and universities on day release programmes. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It was an honour to be part of the extension and improvement of the current facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, to ensure that patients are getting the very best treatment and care possible. “We have extensive experience working in a live hospital environment and we implemented special measures during construction to ensure that the site always remained safe and accessible to patients and staff, working closely with the hospital team in achieving this. “We are very pleased that the client is happy with the quality of the build and that the enhanced, secure facility is in operation and open to the public.” Dr. Jenny Marsden, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facility which meets the requirements of various external agencies to allow us to perform our work. It provides a lovely environment for patients and staff alike. The team are looking forward to welcoming patients and giving cancer care in a bespoke environment which meets their needs. We are also very keen to develop our service in the future, which is now possible as we have space for clinical development and improvement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leicester Royal Infirmary’s radiotherapy department is celebrating the opening of a full extension and significant enhancement works which will ensure that more patients can receive new state-of-the-art treatments. The larger building can house the latest equipment, alongside comfortable waiting spaces, and pleasant office spaces for staff. Delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, works involved a significant extension to the existing Radiotherapy department in Leicester Royal’s Osborne Building to deliver a secure treatment facility as part of the improved health care provision for local people in the region. The £3.5m scheme commenced in the summer of 2022 and completed in August this year, with construction comprising two blocks – a radiotherapy bunker, control room and plant room, and an ancillary accommodation block, both of which connect to the existing Osborne Building via link corridors. The treatment area incorporates high security controls to prevent unauthorised access and provide a safe environment. A specialist force protection engineering consultant was appointed to review the structural design of the room and the building was also reviewed by the Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSA), to ensure compliance. As part of the new building’s green credentials, 32 PV panels were installed on the roof to provide power to the facility, alongside air source heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling through the building, generating fewer carbon emissions. To safely deliver construction works within the fully operational hospital site, a site-specific traffic management plan was implemented to minimise disruption and provide safe access and egress to local residents, hospital visitors and staff. A full-time logistics manager was appointed onsite to assist with the running of the car park, deliveries and to maintain a safe environment. A web-based system was utilised to plan and monitor materials deliveries in order to avoid congestion on the surrounding road networks of the busy hospital site. Social value was incorporated into the project with the site team instigating several initiatives including over 20 hours of litter picking which took place in the surrounding area to improve the environment and help make for a better experience for hospital visitors. A local supply chain was utilised on site which resulted in 77% of local labour being sourced within a 40-mile radius and 94% of all construction waste was recycled locally. As part of G F Tomlinson’s other social value commitments, the contractor provided work experience for a local student studying at a nearby college to provide them with practical experience on site.  Six apprentices were also allocated to the site for a combined total of 113 weeks. During their time at the radiotherapy facility, they had the opportunity to monitor the programme and plan works on site, manage quality assurance, supervise health and safety, and assist with the traffic management within the car park, as well as attending colleges and universities on day release programmes. Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “It was an honour to be part of the extension and improvement of the current [..] facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, to ensure that patients are getting the very best treatment and care possible. “We have extensive experience working in a live hospital environment and we implemented special measures during construction to ensure that the site always remained safe and accessible to patients and staff, working closely with the hospital team in achieving this. “We are very pleased that the client is happy with the quality of the build and that the enhanced, secure facility is in operation and open to the public.” Dr. Jenny Marsden, Head of Radiotherapy Physics, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facility which meets the requirements of various external agencies to allow us to perform our work. It provides a lovely environment for patients and staff alike. The team are looking forward to welcoming patients and giving cancer care in a bespoke environment which meets their needs. We are also very keen to develop our service in the future, which is now possible as we have space for clinical development and improvement.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

A major milestone for Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s (GMMH) new flagship adult mental health inpatient unit has been reached with a topping out ceremony on Thursday 21 September marking the completion of the highest point of the build and the last piece of steel frame being fixed in place. Work commenced on the construction of North View on the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site in August 2022. The new mental health unit is the largest capital project that GMMH has undertaken. GMMH’s Deputy Chief Executive, Andrew Maloney, Chair of Manchester Foundation Trust, Kathy Cowell, NHS England’s Regional Delivery Director, Tom Myers, and Chief Executive of NMGH, Ian Lurcock, formally marked the occasion alongside representatives from GMMH’s Principal Supply Chain Partner, Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the joint venture between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine. North View is a 150-bedroom adult unit set to provide much-needed space and modern facilities for adults with mental health needs from across Manchester. The £105m development will see the creation of a state-of-the-art inpatient unit hosting spacious single bedrooms, each with a private en-suite shower room, as well as a variety of indoor activity areas, meeting rooms for family visiting, multiple gardens, spaces for therapeutic artwork and a café. The steel frame of the construction has now been completed and work continues to clad the exterior to make the build watertight and enable the interior fittings and first-fix electrical and mechanical works to commence. Marc Reed, Associate Director of Capital, Estates & Facilities for GMMH and Project Director for North View, said: “We continue to make fantastic progress on the new unit and remain on programme for North View being complete and ready for patients in autumn 2024. The ‘topping out’ ceremony marked the installation of the final piece of steelwork in the buildings super-structure, with the development now really taking shape. “I’m really pleased to see us reach this important milestone in the project, with our fantastic new development a step closer to reality.  “We are continuing to engage with communities to influence the interior design of North View and it’s exciting to see the next phases develop as construction rapidly progresses.” Andrew Maloney, GMMH’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “I was honoured to attend the topping out ceremony and see first-hand the progress that has been made on this state-of-the-art mental health inpatient unit. It is fantastic to see the building taking shape, giving an insight into the life-changing development it is going to become.  “This is more than just a building – it will be a unique healthcare setting that will benefit and serve the local community for years to come. The project is close to the hearts of those involved, including service users, carers and clinicians who have supported decisions on the design of the building so that we can deliver the best possible care for patients. It’s a massive investment for our local communities and I’m looking forward to it being fully up and running.” The development is part of an exciting vision for North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years. It will replace the Park House mental health unit, which currently serves as the inpatient unit for the area, and is being built in an alternative location on the hospital site. This will allow the new development to be fully constructed without disturbing current patients and the day-to-day operation of services. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals