Client: NSW Health Infrastructure
Location: John Hunter Children’s Hospital, New Lambton Heights
Value: $14.3 million
Start date: May 2015
End date: June 2018
Project Profile
This project involved the demolition of the existing wards and office spaces, construction of new office spaces and the refurbishment of the existing Neonatal Intensive Care floor space to double the NICU beds from 30 from 55 making it the largest in the state. The objective was to not only create a state of the art hospital facility but to improve the basic facilities for staff and parents including privacy dividers between cribs, reclining chairs and mini fridges in each NICU, overnight parent rooms.
This refurbishment included Medical gas services to each crib, Isolation / Procedure room, Negative pressure isolation room with the space for 2 cribs, wet areas, showers, toilets and the commissioning of all systems and providing operational training to staff.
The project also expanded into the adjoining Maternity Ward and provided the hospital with a new Maternity Assessment Day Unit (MADU) which included consultation rooms, assessment rooms and a procedure room.
Project Challenges
The prospect of working in a live hospital environment always poses a challenge to a project. John Hunter Hospital NICU and all areas surrounding the works remained operational during the entire project and had to be accommodated accordingly.
Working around children protocols were strictly adhered to, due to the close proximity of the patients to the work site. Ensuring that any disruptions did not expose the patients or staff to any hazards was a priority, as well as minimising noise and vibration activities where possible.
Our approach to shared access sites is always one of consideration and professionalism ensuring minimal disruption to the hospital. Early warning notice was given to the hospital team to ensure all disruptions were approved before works commenced.
The site team’s ability to communicate with all stakeholders in all situations saw them manage the challenges to ensure a smooth delivery was achieved.