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Elite Systems has announced that significant progress has been made to deliver a 20-bed modular isolation ward for Royal Surrey County Hospital.
Work is currently ongoing on the modular healthcare project and Elite Systems team of specialists is also concurrently working to complete the groundworks at the hospital.
Commercial Director Jason Bowker said: "There is now just a month to go until we hand over to the hospital, and I'm proud to say that we're delivering the project within the original timeframe stated at the outset, and that everything is running smoothly.
"As soon as we received the order, our team commenced work on the groundworks, preparing the site for the building while our design team ironed out the final details of the 20-bed ward with the hospital’s estates’ managers.
"The urgent need for this specialist space meant that the hospital was able to fast-track the planning phase, allowing us to clear the site and lay the required platform for the modules in a very quick timeframe.
"With groundworks ongoing and the design agreed with the hospital, our factory commenced work on manufacturing the 24 modules that will form the isolation ward. This work includes building the outer shell of the building and installing partitioning and wall linings for what will eventually be individual patient isolation rooms, washrooms, and other clinical areas.
"We are also fitting an anti-bacterial cladding on the walls to ensure that all surfaces are health compliant – essential for a building with this specific function.
"Of course, a bout of poor weather had no impact on the build programme as we are constructing under factory conditions, underlining the advantages that working with modular construction can offer when a quick pace of build is a key requirement.
"We're now at a stage where the first modules have been loaded onto the transport vehicles, ready to be driven to Surrey where our on-site team will crane them into position and connect them, ready for the internal fit out to be finished.
"Once the modules are in place, there's plenty of space for the fit-out teams to work at an adequate distance from each other, utilising appropriate PPE at all times. This will mean that the internal fit out of elements such as the mechanical and electrical can be put in place by our contractors, Connells, as well as the second fix on areas such as plumbing.
"We're working towards our completion date, with the hospital looking to begin accepting patients in the new modular isolation ward immediately. Personally I'm very proud of how the team at Elite has responded to this vital project. With office staff working remotely and new social distancing and PPE ruled in place in the factory, everyone has had to adjust to a new way of working, as well as working at a very fast pace to ensure we deliver on time, whilst still maintaining our high standards.
"I believe this project has set a new benchmark of what we can achieve at Elite Systems, and I'm pleased to be able to say we’re doing our bit to help the NHS."
