PROJECT
ALTNAGELVINHOSPITAL, NORTHWING
measures that could be taken, with a view to handing the wards over 8 weeks early
in other countries experiencing the peak of the virus. As a company, we always try to be ahead of the game in our communication and collaboration with our own people and our Clients, stakeholders and supply chain. We were therefore having conversations about potential scenarios and measures we needed to have in place, well before the lockdown was put in place.” Following a request from the Western Health & Social Care Trust to fast-track delivery of three wards in the Derry- Londonderry hospital to protect against a potential surge, the Farrans team quickly assessed the realistic fast-track
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and work in other areas was stopped in an effort to find a solution to the issue of social distancing”. Farrans has since put in place a comprehensive Covid-19 Operating Procedure which ensures the highest possible levels of Health and Safety through social distancing and sanitisation. The document has been developed by Farrans’ SHEQ department and is updated regularly in line with Government Guidance, CDM regulations and regional variations. “Our new Operating Procedure was developed quickly and is being implemented responsibly across all our sites, giving much-needed peace of mind to our employees, supply teams and Clients alike,” David explains. “In late March and early April when we didn’t have the same extent of formal government guidance, Farrans’ priority was to deliver those three critical care wards as quickly as possible, but absolutely without compromise to the safety of our own people and those in close proximity to site. We are proud to have achieved this objective and we know that the Trust has greatly appreciated our efforts.”
in the interest of public health. The working relationship already
established between Farrans and the Trust was an essential component in accelerating the works programme, whilst still ensuring adherence to the highest possible standards of Health & Safety. “Because we had Phase I under our belt, both the Trust and Farrans knew what to expect,” David explained. “I think they knew we could deliver.” Farrans has been permanently on-site on the Healthcare project since 2016, although for some the connection goes back further. David Bolton’s first day on the Altnagelvin Hospital site was a decade earlier, joining the project as his colleagues were laying the South Block’s basement slabs. Now in 2020, as then, David was stepping into largely unknown territory. “As we also were constructing the Main Entrance and Admin areas, we had to start categorising areas as ‘essential’ or ‘non-essential’ in the combating of Covid-19. The Wards considered to be essential were targeted for fast-tracking and focus at that time
“Our workerswerewilling toput their head above the parapet and expose themselves to risk.”
22 | NI BUILDER
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