Ormskirk District General Hospital - Physio

Following EFT Group’s successful delivery of the Endoscopy Project at Ormskirk District General Hospital, we were awarded an additional contract to undertake the extension and refurbishment of the existing Physio facilities.

To support the extended and upgraded facilities, new electrical installations were required throughout. This included a new 95mm sub main and panel board to supply the ward, which was distributed via two new split load surge-protected distribution boards.

To ensure the safety and security of staff and patients, we fitted a new fire alarm system, including void detection and interfaces with the mechanical systems, door access, and the hospital’s site-wide network. Security was also enhanced with new door access systems and both internal and external CCTV.

With the ward being extended, a new nurse call system was also required to ensure patients can get the care they need in a timely manner.

New LED lighting was installed throughout, along with feature suspended lighting in the reception area, creating a bright and welcoming facility to support the delivery of quality care.

These were controlled by an absence detection system, helping to further reduce running costs. Externally, we also installed new lightning protection to ensure the building and the patients and staff inside are protected during storms.

To support the ward’s new IT infrastructure, we installed two new data cabinets with over 120 cat6 points, providing sufficient capacity for current demand and with room to expand as needs evolve.

The Physio project presented us with several challenges, most notably the fact that the ward was located within a live hospital with adjacent areas still being used to deliver care to patients.

This required careful management of our works to minimise disruption, including restricting noise-generating works to outside of certain times of the day.

Infection control was also critical, with controls used to prevent the migration of dust and debris from the work areas into the live hospital.

This included barriers, mats, suppression equipment, and transporting waste using sealed double bags.
Being a live site, service shutdowns and connections could not take place during normal work hours.

So that care could continue to be provided during the week, we operated weekend shifts so that the isolations, connections, and commissioning could be undertaken in time for patients to return on the Monday.

Additionally, the hospital’s programme was very tight, with the new ward required urgently to increase its capacity for physio care.

This required close and collaborative coordination with the hospital’s team and the other contractors on site, to ensure that the works were planned and scheduled to comply with this programme.

We then carefully monitored our delivery to ensure it remained in compliance with the agreed timescales.

Thanks to our successful management of the works and these challenges, we completed the Physio ward refurbishment and extension on time and within budget.

Disruption to patients was minimised and all infection control risks were successfully controlled. EFT Group continues to maintain a strong relationship with the Trust.