Client: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Sector: Healthcare
Services: Construction and refurbishment works | Fire protection | Electrical services
The Project
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is a longstanding Trail Group customer since 2021. In that time our teams have undertaken a wide range of projects for the Trust which has included:
- A £2.5m project to upgrade the sprinkler system and replace 9,500 sprinkler heads across the hospital.
- The refurbishment of the CT suite to accommodate the installation of two new scanners.
- The remodelling and full refurbishment of a former gymnasium and procedure room to create a new four-room suite for laser treatment.
Our projects have included:
- An extensive refurbishment programme to create new management offices
- Fire suppression systems to protect critical assets
- Fire door installations
- Upgrading shared facilities – wet rooms and toilets – in nurse’s accommodation
- A three-phase project to enhance car parking facilities carried out to a very short programme
- Fitting new staff kitchens to the Children’s Therapies Department and for offices at Harbour Yard.
Management Offices – Scope of Works
This £1.3m contract involved the full refurbishment of a space called the Mezzanine to create two floors of fully finished offices spanning 660 sqm, ready for occupation by the Trust’s management and leadership teams.
Our work included:
- New open plan offices to the upper floor and creation of a separate meeting room
- Construction of five individual offices with glazed screens and doors
- Replacement of all pipework for underfloor heating
- New floors and carpeting
- New ceiling tiles and LED lighting
- Air conditioning installation throughout
- Toilets including a disabled toilet
- Staff kitchen area with integrated appliances
- Installation of electric blinds
- Conduits for power and datacomms, and floor-mounted power points for each desk
- Decorating throughout.
Challenges and Outcomes
- As with every project for the Trust, we were working in a live hospital environment where it is vital to avoid disruption to patient services.
- We were able to accommodate a number of specification changes during the office refurbishment to meet the Trust’s ongoing requirements whilst still delivering the project to the original programme.
- On inspecting under the office floors, it was apparent that all pipework for the underfloor heating required replacement. We were able to accommodate this as part of the refurbishment project and achieve the required programme.
Fire Protection
- Fire suppression – The existing fire suppression equipment to protect critical assets was powered by gas cylinders and required replacement with FirePro systems – a more high-tech alternative. This solution removes the need for gas cylinders and is lower maintenance, longer lasting and therefore more cost efficient.
- Fire stopping – The plant rooms for high voltage (HV), switch rooms (LV) and transformers required fire compartmentation. These were boxed in to take account of floor voids when the new fire suppression technology was installed.
- Fire doors – Trail Group undertook a major programme to replace a total of 67 metal fire doors across the hospital.
External Works
We were awarded a £600,000 contract to lay a new surface to two car parks totalling more than 4,000sqm and also to the hospital access road which runs around the site and is a bus route. This contract also included line marking for parking bays and the installation of automatic number plate recognition cameras.
To meet the Trust’s requirements, this project was carried out to a very short programme and over three weekends to minimise any disruption to staff, patients and visitors to the hospital.
Customer Insight
Paul Beaver, Head of Capital Programme, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:
“The refurbishment of the Trust’s management and administrative offices was a challenging project, but it was delivered, looks great and is a significant improvement on the previous facilities.”
“Trail’s Site Manager is visible and very good with an honest approach, communicates well and deals with any issues as they arise.”
“We have also found Trail’s senior management team to be accessible and engaged, which is a really important factor for a contractor and specialist subcontractor working for the Trust.”
Andrew Lewis, Project Manager – Estates & Facilities:
“Trail Group’s proposal for the car park project was competitive following a tendering process and could achieve our budget as well as the timeframe we had, which was a tight programme. Their team was confident they would get the job done in the timescale and this was achieved with as little disruption as possible – a key requirement for the Trust.”
“We benefited from one point of contact who was courteous and available at all times which was appreciated and helpful. The need to minimise disruption to local residents and the running of the hospital was vital. It required careful co-ordination about access to a mental health unit and the re-routing of a bus service.”
“This is the first time I had worked with Trail Group. Their team identified any potential challenges and crunch points, and performed well at each stage.”
Tanya Lewis, Children’s Physiotherapy Department:
“We wanted to say a huge thank you to the Trail Group team for the work they have done recently in our department. They worked really hard to get the work completed in just a few days, with as little disruption as possible.”
“The difference the new kitchen facility has made to our staff is incredible. The team were polite, helpful and communicated at every stage.”
