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Construction of a new single extension at third level over an existing hospital level over the top of the eye clinic, to provide a dedicated area for cataract and other day case ophthalmology patients.
Procurement: Design & Build
Value: £709k
Programme: 26 weeks
Vision: A dedicated eye surgery operating theatre at Torbay Hospital, converted from a previous orthopaedic theatre. To help reduce longer waits elsewhere in the peninsula, to meet national expectation that no patient will need to wait more than six months for their cataract operation.
Challenge: This was a complex project having to construct a new single storey building on top of the existing one while not interrupting trust business. There was also a large refurbishment which required phasing to ensure minimal disruption to clinical services.
Solution: Worked closely with the clinical team so that improvements in patient throughput could be realised. As this was an active site it was important to integrate with the hospital team to ensure that services were not reduced. Patient safety was important particularly during the construction phase. As we work beside patients, particular care had to be taken to ensure that dust was kept to a minimum. Working above a live building also required close liaison with the staff to ensure patients and work was not disrupted.
Benefit: The new unit houses a "one-stop" facilities including assessment, treatment and day-case recovery, in order to make access for patients to cataract and other eye surgery simpler and quicker allowing the Trust to deliver a seamless service, improving patient pathway. Since opening the number of cataract operations being carried out at Torbay Hospital has increased from 1500 to 2000 a year
Architect: Charles E Ware & Sons
Quantity Surveyor: E C Harris
Consultant Engineer: Faraj Consulting