Triumphant quartet delivers new hospital on time in
Knowsley
12 March 2010
A dedicated foursome has pulled off one of the most complicated
building projects in Knowsley's history.
The new £250 million Whiston Hospital has been built while
hospital staff continued to provide vital health services within
the same site.
The expertise and dedication of four partners, Knowsley
Council’s building control department, builders Vinci, (TW),
architects Capita and the local NHS Trust has completed the project
six months ahead of schedule and within budget.
“This is the largest and most complex project I've been involved in
since I joined Knowsley Council many years ago,” said Ken King, the
authority’s Building Control Team Leader.
“Our role was to make sure the scheme met all the various
building and safety regulations. The sheer scale of this task meant
we had to dedicate staff to the project to provide continuity and
promote close ties with the developer.
“We were involved in this from the moment initial concept plans
came up for discussion and we’ve had officers onsite since building
work began.”
The original Whiston Hospital was built in 1843, to provide an
“institution and workhouse to house the sick and destitute of the
surrounding area”.
The original hospital was extended and altered over the years
but in 2001 St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
decided it was time to start again.
The new hospital is six storeys high and has the floor space
equivalent of 15 football pitches. Around half of the construction
workers were recruited locally.
The new hospital will provide world class healthcare and the
very best services for patients.
It has fifteen state of the art operating theatres and
diagnostic facilities. Half of the 800 beds are within single rooms
with ensuite facilities.
The former Accident and Emergency block, has been kept but
completely refurbished to be used as office accommodation for
administrative staff.
Ken said: “The complexity of the project has stretched everybody
involved. We have approved the plans in stages, examining
everything in detail.
“It was absolutely essential that the transition from building
site to fully functioning hospital was achieved without any
glitches. The fact that this has been done is testament to the
close cooperation of all the parties involved.
“We have been able to preserve the integrity and intention of the
regulations whilst allowing flexibility in design.”
The old workhouse, chapel, boiler house and support services
buildings were demolished to make way for the new building.
A 125-year-old time capsule was unearthed during the demolition
of the chapel. The perfectly preserved glass bottle contained
newspapers from the time and a record of the first service held in
the chapel.
A new time capsule was placed under the new hospital by
Liverpool footballer, Steven Gerrard MBE, who was born at Whiston
Hospital, and children from Whiston Willis Community Primary
School.
Knowsley’s cabinet member for regeneration, economy and skills,
Cllr Graham Morgan, said: “This has been a major undertaking for us
and our partners and it will give local people the top class health
facilities they deserve.
“The fact that this massive scheme has been delivered ahead of
schedule is a tribute to the professionalism of our staff here at
the Council and all those involved.”
Ann Marr, Chief Executive of the Trust said: “The redevelopment
of both Whiston and St Helens hospitals has been the single biggest
investment in healthcare in the local community since the start of
the NHS.
“These world class hospitals will help us to continue to provide
our patients with an excellent standard of care.”