With around 200 clinics per week being held within the Outpatient Department, efficient works planning and diligent programme management was critical to minimise down-time and smooth running of clinical services.

Within this live hospital building, works involved the alteration and refurbishment of the  Outpatient Department at first floor level with installation of new M&E plant.

Works were carried out in 5 phases, with key elements taking place out of hours to minimise disruption to day to day hospital operations. The works required demolition, removal of doors, floors, skirtings, crash barriers and ceilings and the construction of some new openings. Existing walls were made good, replastered and redecorated. New areas were created to form a Main Waiting Area, Children’s Waiting Area as well as Consultant Rooms, WCs and Ancillary Rooms.

Segregated access points were carefully managed to enable the operational team to gain access with labour and materials, requiring removal of existing panels/glazing, fully reinstated after completion of each phase. Phase 4 was ‘land-locked’, requiring use of the nearest escape stairs, therefore a strict permit to work system was put in place with full approval of the Trust for each permit.

Effective liaison with the Trust’s Capital Project Manager enabled works activities to be carried out beyond site boundaries at suitable times, including M&E connections on ground floor and access to the rooftop plant room to install new plant.