Renovation works designed to improve the overall care for patients at the Royal United Hospital in Bath have been completed.
Damian James and Richard Stanford Brown | Photo © Stepnell
As part of the £2 million project, construction partner Stepnell installed 28 new en-suites across the hospital’s Haygarth, Forrester Brown, Pierce and Acute Stroke Unit wards.
During the pandemic, the RUH’s relative lack of ensuite facilities was identified as an infection control risk and it is hoped that the new facilities will lead directly to improved patient outcomes.
The scheme included the fitting out of a new clinical utility space and an unused former bathroom was also converted into a new shared office space for nursing staff and junior doctors within the Acute Stroke Unit.
A new private side room has been built on Haygarth ward and redecoration works, plus additional drainage and services ancillary works, were completed throughout all four wards.
To complete the scheme, Stepnell committed to local supply chain spend in Bath and the surrounding areas, engaging with a local chain of subcontractors for almost every element of delivery.
Richard Stanford Brown, senior site manager, said: “As an experienced team in delivering healthcare projects, we worked flexibly to deliver handovers on time and within budget, and all with minimal disruption, delivering the best possible value for the trust.
“The outcome is excellent and will help the hospital and its staff to meet the high health and care standards for patients, which we are incredibly pleased about.”
Daisy Nelson, project manager in the capital projects team at Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, said: “These improvements are already making a real difference for the people we care for and the people we work with. We’ve had some great feedback from staff and patients.
“It was especially important that the project caused minimal disruption to patients and staff while completing the works, and I’m delighted that by working together we achieved this where practically possible.”
Completed in 23 weeks, Stepnell secured the design and build contract under the public sector-based Procure South West Framework, which is managed by the Procure Partnerships Framework (PPF).
Rob Speirs, director at Stepnell, said: “We are continuing to see an increase in projects come through with a significant proportion of our planned work with PPF projects to meet public sector demand.
“Our work with RUH Bath is a prime example of these quality works, which adds to our substantial portfolio of healthcare expertise.”
