Morgan Sindall Construction has delivered a new Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk in 16-weeks.
The unit involved converting the hospital’s former fractures clinic into a purpose-built facility, and was delivered for James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust via the Pagabo framework.
The firm worked alongside the subcontractor LDD to create a new reception and clinical area, including 12 chair bays, eight bed bays, a drug preparation room and three nurse stations, all within the existing hospital building.
As part of the reconfiguration, the fractures clinic was relocated elsewhere on site.
Delivered in a live hospital environment, the works required measures to minimise disruption, including the use of clinical hoarding, continuous noise monitoring and a direct communication process between site teams and clinical staff to pause works when required.
The same day emergency care unit also has a number of new patient care facilities installed, including a nurse call system, infrastructure for medical gas distribution system, and a digital lighting and ventilation system called Mymesh.
The Mymesh system allows the lighting to be dimmed for each individual bays to aid patient care.
Morgan Sindall staff had to work in shifts on a 24/7 basis to ensure the new unit would be delivered in time for the Trust’s deadline.
“Delivering a project of this complexity within an active hospital environment requires more than just technical skill. It demands a significant amount of sector expertise and an incredibly close collaboration with the client,” said Alister Broadberry, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Eastern Counties.
Social value and sustainability
The project team also appointed a waste champion to ensure that any recyclable waste materials from the project did not go to landfill, aligned with the firm’s 10 Tonne Carbon Challenge to implement carbon-saving solutions where possible.
Two student apprentices were also selected from a nearby school to work on the project.
Additionally, the team transformed the hospital’s Sandra Chapman Centre garden, which supports patients with malignant and non-malignant conditions, including blood disorders and cancers.
The larger effort to develop a new hospital
The same day emergency unit was delivered as the Trust is working on a longer-term effort to modernise the estate and create a new James Paget hospital.
Last month, the Trust received conditional approval of its Strategic Outline Case from the Department of Health and Social Care’s Joint Investment Committee, enabling plans for a new hospital to move into the next stage of development.
The current James Paget hospital is one of several NHS sites built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which has driven the need for a replacement facility.
The James Paget Hospital scheme is targeting completion in 2032-33, as work continues to develop the next phase of plans.