Medical Air Technology (MAT) has come to the end of a major project at Barnet Hospital, comprising the complete refurbishment of the healthcare facility’s five main operating theatres, and the refurbishment and remodelling of a day surgery unit.
MAT was brought in by Bouygues Energies and Services (BYES), the serviceprovider responsible for the hospital’s FM and lifecycle replacement works, and part of Bouygues Construction, which built the PFI hospital in 2003. The hospital is now operated by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; MAT says the ‘extremely positive relationship’ between it, the Trust, and BYES, and the support of the hospital’s staff, have ensured the project’s smooth running, and seen it completed on time and within budget.
Having begun working with BYES early in 2014, MAT advised on, costed, and developed a scheme, to encompass the latest technology and give the theatres enhanced equipment and performance, while bringing them back to their original standard. All work was undertaken in a ‘live’ environment, and had to be managed accordingly to ensure that the hospital’s day-to-day running was uninterrupted.
The original theatres were nearing the end of their lifecycle, and the hospital was keen to embrace the latest developments in theatre design and technology as part of their refurbishment. The remodelled day surgery unit, incorporating an adult assessment unit (AAU), will meanwhile help to ease winter bed pressures and diagnostic waiting times.
The first of the five theatres began operating in early 2016, and features an ultraclean ventilation canopy from MAT’s ‘energy-efficient’ ECO-flow range, making it suitable for orthopaedic surgery. The four remaining theatres have all had ventilation upgrades, plus new operating lights, touchscreen surgeon’s panels, PACS systems, new doors, Whiterock wall finishes, terrazzo floor refurbishment, furniture, sanitaryware, lighting, and small power and medical gases.
The project progressed so well that mid-way through the work on the new theatres, BYES and the Trust approached MAT to discuss broadening the scope of work to include the day surgery unit, which has been remodelled to include the adult assessment unit (AAU), enabling patients to be assessed and treated quickly, minimising overnight stays, and streamlining patient flow. The unit has had a full internal redesign and upgrade, including of mechanical and electrical systems, medical gases, finishes, and furniture, and new bathrooms. The AAU was completed within 18 weeks. It has an open, light, and airy feel, with brightly coloured murals and artwork to enhance the patient experience.
