Investment in NHS estates is not only delivering modern facilities but is also providing better and more effective care for patients too.
Willmott Dixon Interiors is working in partnership with University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) to upgrade buildings across Brighton and Hove and West Sussex.
The projects are seeing a combination of internal improvements, change of use, building expansions and complex maintenance upgrades.
And each of them is enhancing staff and patient experience in UHSussex hospitals.
Meeting needs, improving services
Every NHS Trust faces the challenge of continuing to deliver high quality health services in environments that are simply no longer fit for purpose.
UHSussex is responsible for several large estates across Sussex.
They contain multiple buildings of varying age and include the likes of the Royal Sussex County Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton, as well as the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.
The Trust is financing the delivery of a variety of projects at these hospital sites that are being designed to create better and safer places to be treated and healthier and more rewarding places to work.
Collectively they will provide:
- Modern healthcare facilities
- Improved environments for staff and patients
- Increased capacity to reduce patient waiting times
- Efficient working practices
- Optimised clinical safety
Above: Interior of Royal Sussex County Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre
- Urgent Treatment Centre, Royal Sussex County Hospital
We have completed work on a multi million pound extension to the Accident and Emergency Department at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. The new Urgent Treatment Centre is a two-storey modular extension. It will improve the care environment for patients receiving urgent treatment and provide a key resource in managing high levels of demand for A&E services.
Key project outcomes:
- Modular build outside main A&E facility
- Increased capacity to support critical patients in A&E
- Completed within a live hospital environment
- 92% of project spend via SMEs
- 98% waste diverted from landfill
Above: Exterior of Royal Sussex County Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre
- Thomas Kemp Bridge, Royal Sussex County Hospital
Remodelling work has delivered a connection from the existing hospital to a new building, greatly improving efficiency, and staff and patient experience. The project was contracted through the Procurement Hub Framework and included the removal of two partitions and installation of a new partition wall, replacement doors, a new door set, fire stopping and new flooring to three small lobbies.
Key project outcomes:
- Improved efficiency through the connection of two buildings
- Overcoming logistical challenges to reduce disruption in each building
- Improved staff and patient experience
- Urology Consulting Department, the Princess Royal Hospital
We’re currently on site at the hospital in Haywards Heath, where we are refurbishing and extending an existing modular facility to create a new Urology Consulting Department. The project has been driven by the need to create more space and improved services. It has involved the demolition and strip-out of the building, which will be followed by fit out, external works and MEP connection.
Key project challenges:
- Contained within live hospital environments
- Logistical challenges in reducing disruption
- Underground obstructions discovered during construction
Above: Interior of Royal Sussex County Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre
- Audiology Department, the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital
We’re delivering a state-of-the-art children’s Audiology Testing Centre at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (RACH). The project will see the installation of four audiology booths which will enable the Trust to relocate the Paediatric Audiology Department at the Royal County Hospital site. It includes remodelling of existing office, meeting and observation space, and will also deliver a repair room and vestibular facility.
Key project challenges:
- Working in a busy, live hospital environment
- Challenging site logistics and storage space
- Strict dust control measures
5. Recently appointed projects
Our reputation for the successful delivery of healthcare projects has led to Willmott Dixon Interiors securing three additional contracts at Royal Sussex County Hospital on behalf of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
They include:
- The expansion, reconfiguration and full refurbishment of acute flooring within the Emergency Department, which will reduce A&E waiting times.
- Replacing high temperature hot water pipework throughout the Thomas Kemp Tower and upgrading the access in the main mechanical riser to improve mechanical services and remove redundant services.
- And we’ll also be widening the North Service Road to reduce traffic flow exiting the hospital, including the installation of new bollards and road demarcations.
Kind hearted teammates keep on running for NHS
As with every construction or refurbishment project we deliver, our focus is not only on providing first class facilities for our customers. We strive to leave a lasting positive legacy in our local communities too.
During our time spent on site in Brighton, we are committed to giving something back to the four NHS Trust hospitals in Brighton and Haywards Heath.
We are looking forward to sponsoring the Patient First Star Awards evening in June 2023, which will be a celebration of all of the incredible work undertaken by NHS staff in the region.
We’ve also been getting active to raise money for the Trust’s charity, with teams from Willmott Dixon Interiors – including our managing director, Graham Shaw – taking on the challenge of the Brighton 10k.
Steve Crump, Head of BSUH Charity, said: “On behalf of the Trust and our charity, I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Graham for supporting our local hospitals. Both the charity and Willmott Dixon Interiors share a common goal – to support hardworking NHS staff to give their very best in patient care. The funds raised will make a real difference and Graham’s efforts are greatly appreciated.”
