On the NHS’ 74th Anniversary (5 July), Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), has announced the name of its major new In-patient mental health unit to be constructed at North Manchester General Hospital: ‘North View’. Marking the NHS’ Birthday by unveiling the official name for the £105.9 million adult
Construction works to build a new Urgent Treatment Centre at a Lincolnshire hospital – an emergency-funded project which was fast-tracked to help ease COVID-19 pressure – has now been completed by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson. The £2.4m project involved the construction of a single storey extension at Lincoln County
The final details have been safely negotiated for the construction of the new Badenoch and Strathspey Community Hospital this summer in Highland. Signed off by the Scottish Government, the plans also include an overhaul of healthcare services in the strath. “My visit to Skye and Lochalsh today has been an
When patients are allowed to recover in a more comfortable environment studies show there is a positive impact on their healing and well-being. Effective building design has been widely used to help patients recover more quickly and hospital staff to work more efficiently. Evidence-based design (EBD), the process of making
Berwick will turn one of its current infirmary into a new £25 million hospital, with all of its previous services still continuing into the new building. After reviewing feedback on previous proposals to develop a joint site with the Swan leisure centre, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Northumberland
The former Royal Infirmary hospital in Edinburgh is going under restoration work, with the UK construction giant Balfour Beatty landing the contract for the project. The £70 million works will be completed to deliver a new major education hub for the University of Edinburgh. “We have a long history of
One in six Britons who have undertaken a DIY project at home in the last year have injured themselves in the process, costing the NHS an estimated £222 million from A&E visits. The main culprits behind the injuries from home DIY projects were power tools, ladders and general tools. The
The Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot is to receive a £98 million transformation from Kier. The new 11,500 sq m site will specialise in planned, non-emergency procedures, while offering state-of-the-art outpatient and diagnostic facilities for cardiology, radiology, lithotripsy, children’s clinic, physiotherapy and orthodontics. “This latest win is a hugely important milestone for
Cambridge biomedical campus has just welcomed a new state of the art hospital, as final touches approached completion. The Royal Papworth Hospital, which will house five operating theatres, five catheter laboratories (for non-surgical procedures) and two hybrid theatres, was delivered by Skanska. “We’re delighted to hand over the building to
The new £98 million Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot has officially received green light and construction work is on its way. The project leader is Kier, aiming to replace the ageing Heatherwood Hospital with a new state of the art facility, located in woodland behind the current site. “We are delighted that
On the NHS’ 74th Anniversary (5 July), Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), has announced the name of its major new In-patient mental health unit to be constructed at North Manchester General Hospital: ‘North View’. Marking the NHS’ Birthday by unveiling the official name for the £105.9 million adult inpatient unit is a significant milestone demonstrating how the NHS has innovated and adapted to meet the changing needs of each successive generation. Work on the new building is expected to start in August, with the new unit anticipated to be built and operational by 2024. The name follows engagement with staff, service users and stakeholders, which saw hundreds of suggestions. Commenting on the announcement, Neil Thwaite, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “In deciding on a name for the new development we wanted to choose something that would stand the test of time and celebrate our location in North Manchester. The name provides a strong sense of place and was inspired by the Lemn Sissay poem “Anthem of the North”, whose imagery resonates with our ethos of care, resilience, hope and growth. “We are very much looking forward to our move into the new North View development. Not only does a modern, therapeutic environment help us to improve the quality of specialist inpatient mental health care, but the design of the unit has been carefully thought through to enhance what we do. The 150 bed spaces are in single rooms with en-suite bedrooms. There are indoor and outdoor amenity and activity areas with multiple outside garden spaces, space for artwork, meeting spaces and a café for everyone to enjoy.” Marc Reed, Associate Director of Capital, Estates and Facilities for Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Today’s announcement is a significant milestone as we move towards construction of the new mental health inpatient unit. We’ll now be undertaking work to develop branding to support the North View building name and provide a specific identity for the project. We have all waited a very long time for this fit for purpose, mental health inpatient unit and we are truly excited for what this transformation will mean for adults with mental health problems in Manchester.” The new building will open in Autumn 2024 and forms part of the new hospital programme and transformation of a new sustainable health campus at North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH). The new development is a major part of the vision to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years. In November 2021, the UK government formally approved the Full Business Case for the brand new mental health unit for adults in Manchester. This is part of the Prime Minister’s commitment to upgrade 20 hospitals, backed by £850m, to update facilities and equipment, helping improve patient care and ultimately save more lives. The £105.9 million state-of the-art unit will replace the current Park House mental health inpatient unit. £91.3 million will be funded by central government, with the remaining £14.6 million funded by GMMH. Find out more at https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/improving-north-manchester
Construction works to build a new Urgent Treatment Centre at a Lincolnshire hospital – an emergency-funded project which was fast-tracked to help ease COVID-19 pressure – has now been completed by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson. The £2.4m project involved the construction of a single storey extension at Lincoln County Hospital, expanding the facility’s existing accident and emergency department, to create an urgent treatment centre, which also includes a new entrance into the accident and emergency department. Secured through Pagabo’s National Framework for Medium Works, which covers schemes between the value of £1m-£5m in the Midlands – the project was completed over a period of 24 weeks following planning approval, with the official handover taking place at the end of April. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust submitted plans to City of Lincoln Council last year, after receiving a £7million national funding boost from the Department of Health and Social Care, which is part of a £150million capital funding programme to expand and upgrade 25 A&Es across the UK, to reduce overcrowding and improve infection prevention control in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital remained operational while the Urgent Treatment Centre was being built and through further phased construction work which includes additional spaces and facilities, it is now able to increase its capacity and services. Further phased works across the department include; a bigger resus area with twice as many bays for the emergency patients, a new paediatrics area with its own dedicated waiting room, and treatment cubicles and a sensory area for the youngest patients and their families. Additional treatment rooms for mental health patients, and an ambulance drop-off point and new bays were also created outside the front of the department with entrances directly into the resus and major areas. The extra clinical space will ensure that the emergency department will be able to accept patients from ambulance crews with improved speed and safety. Given the urgent need for such a scheme, G F Tomlinson fast-tracked the project, carrying out the works seven days a week with extended hours to ensure completion was delivered on time. Under a variation of the contract, G F Tomlinson also undertook £1m infrastructure works at the hospital, for a new Specialist Respiratory Unit. The Derby-headquartered contractor provided value engineering and design services, which were also fast-tracked to assist with minimising timings and costs. Chris Flint, director at G F Tomlinson, said: “This was a vital project completed under Pagabo’s National Framework for Medium Works, to provide much-needed additional space at Lincoln County Hospital, in order to cope with the influx of patients requiring treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Ensuring that we worked as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible on site was our number one priority, given the challenges of working at an extremely busy hospital that remained fully operational whilst building works took place. We are delighted to have delivered this project within a very short space of time, to improve the services and capacity the hospital can offer patients.” Emma Hesbrook, regional relationship manager for the Midlands at Pagabo, said:“Due to the importance of the scheme, the Trust required a quick procurement route that also offered them full compliance. By procuring through our Medium Works Framework, they were able to appoint G F Tomlinson within days of making initial contact with Pagabo, which was hugely beneficial for them. “I’d like to say a massive well done to the whole delivery team involved who have gone above and beyond to ensure that the project was delivered on time.” United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s director of finance and digital, Paul Matthew, said: “These developments will help us to see and treat our patients more quickly and ensure that everyone is getting the level of care that they require. A massive thank you to G F Tomlinson who have completed this first phase on schedule, despite all of the challenges of a global pandemic. “Work will now begin on the next phases to make sure the department is not only fit for today, but also for the future.”
The final details have been safely negotiated for the construction of the new Badenoch and Strathspey Community Hospital this summer in Highland. Signed off by the Scottish Government, the plans also include an overhaul of healthcare services in the strath. “My visit to Skye and Lochalsh today has been an opportunity to find out more about the work underway to deliver the recommendations in Sir Lewis Ritchie’s report on out-of-hours services,” said Health Secretary Jeane Freeman. “Reading the latest report and hearing from members of the community, the clinicians and other partners has reassured me that NHS Highland are moving in the right direction. I have been particularly impressed with the level of commitment and drive shown by the community and their representatives working with NHS Highland and their partners to develop solutions together.” The plans are part of a joint £48 million full business case submitted to Scottish Ministers to modernise community and hospital services for two NHS Highland localities – the other area being Skye, Lochalsh and South West Ross. The Government’s Capital Investment Group has now approved the full business case submission; which means construction of the two community hospitals will begin this summer. “This investment represents a major step forward for NHS services in both Skye and Badenoch and Strathspey. It supports our efforts to modernise and transform the delivery of healthcare and, in terms of our promise to improve out-of-hours care on Skye, it is very much in line with the recommendations of the Ritchie Report,” said NHS Highland’s chief executive Iain Stewart. “We are delighted to be able to turn this vision into reality and I would like to recognise the huge contribution made by local communities, staff and partner agencies in reaching this stage. The redesigned services will be more stable, more sustainable and will deliver a better experience for our patients and wider communities,” he added. £4.6 million will be used to refurbish and retain existing facilities in Grantown, Kingussie, Broadford and Portree. However, both Ian Charles Hospital in Grantown and Kingussie’s St Vincent’s Hospital will close when the new Aviemore hospital opens its doors.
When patients are allowed to recover in a more comfortable environment studies show there is a positive impact on their healing and well-being. Effective building design has been widely used to help patients recover more quickly and hospital staff to work more efficiently. Evidence-based design (EBD), the process of making changes to the built environment based on research to improve outcomes, has helped lower the incidences of hospital-acquired infections, medical errors, patient accidents, and staff injuries. “The environment’s influence on a patient’s well-being was first, scientifically, explored by professor Roger Ulrich in his 1980s study that sought to determine whether there was any measurable positive influence in a patient’s recovery when they were given rooms with different views,” commented Gareth Rees, Head of UK Strategic Market – Healthcare Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “The research showed that patients who had views overlooking nature [rather than that of a building] experienced shorter stays, needed fewer pain medication and were more optimistic about their prospects. These findings paved the way to a greater awareness and understanding of how space and hospital architecture can affect our physical condition and state of mind.” Using EBD techniques today architects and designers have been developing solutions for better healing environments. Healthcare facilities often have unique individual requirements with specialised hospital rooms requiring bespoke implementations for patient recovery wards, operating theatres, pressurised rooms and laboratories. Careful design can improve safety and productivity, reduce staff stress levels, lower resource wastage and enhance environmental sustainability. There is a delicate balance between providing the ideal recovery conditions in patient rooms and an optimal work environment for staff to deliver the best possible care. The provision of WiFi and personal control over room conditions are important elements for patient satisfaction. Room automation controlled by a patient’s smartphone or tablet allows the precise control over temperature, ventilation and other functions that affect comfort. Wearable tags can also be deployed to monitor the vital signs of patients to automate control of a recovery environment. Circadian lighting that follows a patient’s natural daily rhythm or sleep/wake cycle reduces tiredness and enhances recovery sleep while audio levels can be improved through the use of sound-absorbent materials installed in ceilings and flooring. Acuity-adaptable spaces lessen the movement of patients reducing stress on both patients and staff. Operating theatres are complex environments that need to be spacious, hygienic and well-lit (with overhead surgical lights). Generally windowless temperature and humidity levels are tightly controlled. Pressurised rooms are designed to isolate a patient with infectious diseases and require air management and filtering systems. Medical or clinical laboratories where approximately 70 percent of treatment decisions are made require stable conditions with exact controls over temperature, humidity and sometimes, pressure. Smart infrastructure and IoT technologies are an expanding area of interest to healthcare planners and allow owners and operators of hospitals to leverage more from their existing assets which are becoming more intelligent- producing and using data to perform better throughout their lifetime. Total Integrated Power and lighting control systems, air, space and asset tracking solutions all improve energy usage, space utilisation and real-time location usage. Concluded Rees: “Hospitals are never going to be places that any of us are going to particularly enjoy visiting but through better physical environments designers can speed up our recovery and alleviate a lot of the stress and fear. Better performing buildings can provide higher comfort levels and well-being for all occupants.”
Berwick will turn one of its current infirmary into a new £25 million hospital, with all of its previous services still continuing into the new building. After reviewing feedback on previous proposals to develop a joint site with the Swan leisure centre, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) agreed on the development. “We are delighted to be able to announce that the new hospital will be built on the site of the much loved (Berwick) Infirmary,” said Northumbria Healthcare CEO Sir James Mackey. “Following extensive joint public engagement, and a thorough review of all alternative sites, we believe this is the best option which also commands the support of both staff and the community – a factor which is very important to both the trust and the CCG. “It is clear that the joint development was not what the town wanted. Instead, people demonstrated their support for a stand-alone hospital on the current site. Accordingly, we have listened, responded and worked together to come up with this plan as an alternative.” The authorities will put a major emphasis on eradicating the need to travel for minor or routine appointments in the plans by ensuring they track and publish the number of miles patients have to travel on a yearly basis. The design of the facility will also focus flexibility, embracing new technology and ensuring outstanding care. “This is great news for Berwick and we are delighted to see the project moving forward in a way that meets the needs of the local community. Patients are at the heart of our services and this decision is as a direct result of the feedback we have heard,” added Janet Guy, chair of Northumberland CCG. “We very much look forward to working with Northumbria Healthcare to provide a first class health facility for the people of Berwick. It’s very exciting and is brilliant news for both the NHS and the town.” Preliminary talks are underway with a number of possible developers.
The former Royal Infirmary hospital in Edinburgh is going under restoration work, with the UK construction giant Balfour Beatty landing the contract for the project. The £70 million works will be completed to deliver a new major education hub for the University of Edinburgh. “We have a long history of restoring listed buildings, including the National Museum of Scotland and the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Combining the latest construction techniques and technologies, we look forward to sympathetically restoring Edinburgh’s Old Royal Infirmary hospital for the wider benefit of the community,” commented Hector Macaulay, Balfour Beatty’s Managing Director of Scotland and Ireland. The Edinburgh Futures Institute development will include multiple teaching and learning facilities, function areas, and work spaces for staff, students and the general public. For the development, Balfour Beatty has to restore and connect six wards in order to unlock the building’s wide corridors to create free-flowing areas in the University’s Grade- A listed Old Royal Infirmary hospital building, spanning over 21,000 square meters. They will employ 170 people at construction peak. To enhance the restoration process, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and augmented and virtual reality technologies will also be utilised. Work will commence on the project in spring 2019, and is expected to be completed ahead of the start of the academic year in 2021.
One in six Britons who have undertaken a DIY project at home in the last year have injured themselves in the process, costing the NHS an estimated £222 million from A&E visits. The main culprits behind the injuries from home DIY projects were power tools, ladders and general tools. The research, undertaken by the team at www.MyJobQuote.co.uk, surveyed 2,802 people aged between 18 and 65 years old. Respondents all stated that they lived in their own home, whether owned or rented. The research found that 64% of respondents have undertaken a form of DIY or home improvement on their property within the last year, all of whom were under the age of 65. Of those that had partaken in DIY in the past year, one in six (17%) were found to have caused injury to themselves in the process. The injury was so severe for 26% of these that they had to visit A&E to treat the injury, whilst a further 5% called an ambulance to be taken to hospital. The results indicate that 2.8% of Britons aged 18-65 have ended up in A&E as a result of a DIY injury, whilst less than 1% have been taken to hospital in an ambulance. Using NHS statistics on the average cost of visiting A&E (£143) and the cost of getting an ambulance to hospital (£259)*, along with the most recent ONS data for the population of 18-65 year olds in the UK (40,762,058), the results indicate that DIY injuries cost the NHS £222,322,225 in hospital visits last year. The leading five causes of the injuries were revealed to be: Contact with a power tool – 23% Fell from a ladder – 22% Contact with a non-power tool – 17% Electrocuted myself – 10% Incident with a Lawnmower – 6% Asked if they had missed any time off work as a result of their DIY injury, as many as three fifths (60%) said that they had missed at least one day, with the average found to be three days. Unfortunately 12% said the injury had caused long-term damage, and a further 6% said that they were unable to return to work for at least one year. “DIY naturally comes with its own set of risks as the equipment used, such as power tools and ladders, can be dangerous if not used properly. Obviously accidents happen and can sometimes be unavoidable, but a high number of these accidents could be averted with the proper precautions, thus alleviating the strain and cost on the NHS. Always wear protection, such as goggles or a mask and gloves where necessary, take extra care when using power tools and dealing with electrics and never go up a ladder without someone holding the base for you,” commented on the findings Lisa Evans, spokesperson for www.MyJobQuote.co.uk.
The Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot is to receive a £98 million transformation from Kier. The new 11,500 sq m site will specialise in planned, non-emergency procedures, while offering state-of-the-art outpatient and diagnostic facilities for cardiology, radiology, lithotripsy, children’s clinic, physiotherapy and orthodontics. “This latest win is a hugely important milestone for healthcare delivery in the south of England. It is testament to the drive, energy and passion of the team at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust that this new build hospital will help transform delivery of healthcare to residents of Ascot and the surrounding area,” said Jonathan Payne, managing director for Kier Construction Thames Valley and director at Kier Buildings. Kier was awarded the build contract by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust through the ProCure21+ framework. “Working collaboratively with the trust over the last three years, we have also delivered a new maternity unit and emergency assessment centre for Wexham Park Hospital. Alongside our local supply chain, we have extensive experience delivering healthcare projects and we look forward to playing a pivotal role in the transformation of Heatherwood Hospital,” added Jonathan. The new hospital is expected to double the services of the existing facility within its first 10 years, offering six operating theatres and 48 inpatient beds, plus 22 day case cubicles. A primary care hub and private patient unit will also be located on site. “We are delighted that we can now deliver our vision for the Heatherwood site. The new hospital will ensure we can offer local patients the best care in the best environment and it is a key part of our strategy to remain an innovative and outstanding trust well into the future. We can’t wait to get started,” commented Frimley Health chief executive Neil Dardis. The transformation work is due to begin on site this month, with completion scheduled for the end of 2021.
Cambridge biomedical campus has just welcomed a new state of the art hospital, as final touches approached completion. The Royal Papworth Hospital, which will house five operating theatres, five catheter laboratories (for non-surgical procedures) and two hybrid theatres, was delivered by Skanska. “We’re delighted to hand over the building to our customer. We look forward to watching its transformation with the latest medical equipment into a world-class facility. The thousands of hours of work by our people and the supply chain will leave a positive lasting legacy for Cambridge, the UK and beyond,” commented Charlie Norris, Project Director for Skanska. Patients will benefit from approximately 310 beds, including a 46-bed critical care unit, with most patients having their own single, en-suite rooms. Other key features include a specialist air filtering system in the hospital’s cystic fibrosis department to minimise the spread of airborne infections, and a link corridor to the adjacent Addenbrooke’s Hospital to support the transfer of patients needing treatment in the two hospitals. Royal Papworth staff will move from their existing hospital in Papworth Everard to the new facility, which will continue to enable staff deliver excellent care to patients suffering from heart and lung disease. “It is incredibly exciting to be able to walk through the hospital without hard hats and high-vis jackets and really imagine this impressive building as a fully-functioning heart and lung hospital. After many years of planning, we are now just months away from moving in and starting to realise the huge benefits that the new building and its location on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus will bring for our patients and staff,” said Stephen Posey, Chief Executive at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. All of Royal Papworth’s clinical services will be moved to the new facility during a three-week move period from 23 April 2019.
The new £98 million Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot has officially received green light and construction work is on its way. The project leader is Kier, aiming to replace the ageing Heatherwood Hospital with a new state of the art facility, located in woodland behind the current site. “We are delighted that work to build a new hospital can now begin on the Heatherwood site. This will be a fantastic hospital fit for the 21st century, offering state-of the-art care for our patients and a first class working environment for our staff,” said Dr Tim Ho, medical director at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. Specialising in planned, non-emergency procedures such as orthopaedics, general surgery, urology, gynaecology and endoscopy, the new facility will have six operating theatres and 48 inpatient beds, plus 22 day case cubicles. Moreover, it will also include space for the Trust’s private patient unit. In addition, the facility will offer a range of outpatient and diagnostic facilities, including cardiology, radiology, lithotripsy, children’s clinic, physiotherapy and orthodontics and space for a primary care hub with GPs, community nurses and other healthcare specialists. “We are delighted that we can now deliver our vision for the Heatherwood site. The new hospital will ensure we can offer local patients the best care in the best environment and it is a key part of our strategy to remain an innovative and outstanding trust well into the future. We can’t wait to get started,” commented Frimley Health chief executive Neil Dardis. The new Heatherwood Hospital is the latest major development in Frimley Health’s £200 million capital investment programme, expected to be complete by late 2021.
