Delivering a multi-million pound hospital extension for Barnsley

We served as project manager, driving the programme of work over the past four years, overcoming the restrictions of construction at a continually operational hospital, and the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The 703m² extension brings together the hospital’s previous paediatric units into a single location, enabling specialists across the children’s emergency department and the assessment unit to work together in closer proximity with improved communication and logistics.

Work began on the extension in January 2020 and was delivered in these three stages:

1. Moving the ambulance entrance
2. The construction of the single-storey extension to house the children’s assessment unit (CAU) and children’s emergency department
3. An expansion of the adults’ emergency department.

Disruption was minimised and designs were re-visited and adapted in line with COVID-19 regulations where necessary. 

We worked alongside the Trust’s project manager to ensure that all parts of the hospital remained operational throughout the construction works and the COVID-19 pandemic. This required careful planning, coordination and communication between the whole project team. As the pandemic arrived during the second phase of works, the team adapted the plans to enhance the facility’s anti-infection measures, including an overhaul of the air circulation system.

Project Manager Tafadzwa Chisambara said: “This much-needed extension provides an essential upgrade to Barnsley Hospital’s emergency and paediatric facilities. Not only will this centralise the children’s specialist units and make treatment more efficient and effective, it also future-proofs the facilities as the hospital faces the ongoing task of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the challenging year and significant hurdles in the way of this project, it is testament to the tireless work of everyone involved that this vital extension is now open and operational.

Alison Fearns, Project Manager at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “Emergency Department staff have been involved in the design which creates a calm and reassuring environment for staff and patients.

The standard of workmanship and delivery has been exemplary with our Trust contractor’s with the Trust/Estates and Clinical Teams during what was a logistically complex project in a live clinical environment.