Turner & Townsend has overseen a £3.75m extension to Barnsley Hospital’s emergency department, including a new dedicated children’s emergency unit able to provide 24/7 wraparound care.
The contractor served as project manager for the scheme, driving the programme of work and overcoming the restrictions of construction at a continually-operational hospital and the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The 703sq m 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.
The three phases of the project included moving the ambulance entrance, the construction of a single-storey extension to house the children’s assessment unit (CAU) and children’s emergency department, and the expansion of the adult emergency department.
Disruption was minimised, and designs were revisited and adapted in line with COVID-19 regulations.
Work began on the extension in January 2020 and was delivered in these three stages.
Turner & Townsend’s worked alongside the trust’s project manager to ensure all parts of the hospital remained operational throughout the construction works and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
Tafadzwa Chisambara, project manager at Turner & Townsend, 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 futureproofs 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.”