Our projects

Developing a patient-centred hospital in Somerset

Against a challenging timeframe, we mobilised quickly, working with the NHS Trust and hospital staff to create Bridgwater’s award-winning new community hospital.

Once the Trust had made the decision to replace their 200-year old hospital, they needed a solution fast.

The construction project had to get up and running quickly to secure the funding needed. So, after winning the healthcare contract through our IHP joint venture with Vinci Construction UK, we mobilised straight away.

Our advance research into the kind of cash flow, site and planning issues that would need to be addressed helped give us a head start.

We also knew communication would be key. So we set up a shared office with key supply chain members. With healthcare construction service specialists across build, M&E and fit-out, we were able to get started on site rapidly, the team anticipating challenges, devising solutions in advance and adapting construction to meet our client’s needs.

Involving clinical staff from the start, we made sure that the hospital design met staff and patient needs. As a result, it has won awards for its role in improving the patient experience.

 

    • Client: Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
    • Sector: Healthcare
    • Value: £19m
    • Location: South West
    • Service: Construction Support
    • Completion date: 2014

The team has brought forward solutions to problems even before they became apparent…although it is a joint venture you couldn’t tell which organisation an individual worked for. They seemed to be very much a single entity.

Simon Corrick, Project Director from Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Close collaboration

Thanks to our onsite project team and liaison with healthcare staff, the hospital achieved exemplary design standards and was delivered defect-free.

High standards

Our commitment to quality won the approval of a clerk of works employed by the client.

Smooth transition

To make sure the move was trouble-free, our teams started to familiarise staff with the hospital long before its completion.

M&E focus

With M&E accounting for a quarter of the budget we made sure we brought specialists NG Bailey in as early as possible.

Building extras

Through taking an adaptable approach to construction, we were able to incorporate construction of an additional unit without affecting the main build.

Dynamic approach

To make sure the hospital could secure the next round of funding, we had to start building early.

We rapidly specified and agreed enabling works so we could get started on site straight away.

Patient-centred design

It was critical that the hospital met the needs of patients and staff, so we involved staff from an early stage. By carefully documenting their everyday requirements, we were able to create a design that suited their needs while delivering an environment specifically geared towards patients.

And with the hospital constructed flexibly – with moveable internal walls – it can evolve to meet future healthcare needs

Awards

  1. awards

    Building Better Healthcare Awards

    Highly Commended, Innovations in ProCure21+ category

  2. awards icon - light green

    Community Hospitals Association Awards

    Design Category Winner (2016)