This was a highly complex installation to a new three storey 79692m facility, accommodation included 10 birthing suites complete with ensuite and wet rooms, Critical Care Neo-natal intensive care (28 cot unit) and a 30 cot sick children’s birthing unit (SCBU).
All units were complete with complex services including medical gas and dual power systems, an MRI unit and 10 Birthing pool suites together with Foetal Medicine and Day Assessment Units with other supporting units including Gynaecology and Physiotherapy. We also undertook significant refurbishment of the maternity hospital once the new building was operational. The multi-phased handover of this project meant we had to work carefully and thoroughly through the design to ensure it was built with the commission ability and operational integrity of each section in mind.
Due to the life critical services in many of the units as well as the diagnostic imaging equipment, there was complex and comprehensive IPS/UPS back-up and an earth referencing system that had to comply with MEIGaN (Medical Electrical Installation Guidance regulations) to ensure the reliability and resilience of the power supplies. Again in the high dependency units our services had to meet exacting decibel levels to comply with acoustic concerns given the critical/sensitive nature of the infants that would be in the room.
To maintain quality as well as to meet the tight programme we chose to offsite manufacture the vertical bedhead trunking. As this contained the medical gas, power, data and nurse call this meant significant co-ordination was required to ensure the services were brought to the exact locations in the ceilings.
