Investing in the changing face of healthcare
The Central Procurement Directorate’s Health Projects Director Brendan Smyth discusses the challenges of delivering key infrastructure for the Health Service.
The key to delivery is trying to get the fine balance between the budget you have and how it’s distributed, says Brendan Smyth.
The Health Service is going through a major transition period, moving patient diagnostics and treatments away from acute hospitals to community care centres.
“What we are having to do is to delay some projects in order to live within our means,” explains Smyth, the acting Director of Health Projects. The current bill for projects under construction, in procurement or at the design stage is around £729 million. Over £200 million worth of healthcare buildings are currently under construction. The most expensive project is at the procurement stage ie the new regional children’s hospital at the Royal Hospitals site in West Belfast which will cost £220 million.
Smyth admits that “a very close eye” is being kept on the level of commitment being entering into in the future years “to make sure that we don’t overextend.” He adds: “There’s probably always been a prioritisation but it has required a further prioritisation and also, limited the capacity of taking on further projects.”
A qualified architect, Smyth sees the quality of the design as a crucial part of his team’s philosophy and strategy. “It doesn’t cost any more but it adds to both the lifecycle value and the quality of the product that is delivered,” he remarks. “It’s even more important at a time of constrained funding than it is at times when there’s plentiful money.”
Ballymena Community Treatment & Care Centre
The project costing £24 million is located in the Northern Trust area. The 9,000 square metre site includes GP, outpatient and diagnostic services, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, mental health facilities and intermediate clinical assessment treatment services.
Banbridge Community Treatment & Care Centre
Work is underway on the £11 million project in the Southern Trust area. The facilities at the 6,000 square metre centre include primary care, day care for adults with learning and physical disabilities, and staff workstations. It is co-located beside a GP health village.
Ulster Hospital Generic Ward Block
The £80 million project will provide 288 bedrooms and house areas for day procedures, cardiac investigations, endoscopy, cardiology and a cath lab. There will also be space for a pharmacy, a café and retail facilities.
Omagh Enhanced Local Hospital Centre
Costing £65.5 million and currently under construction, the 28,000 square metre building will house numerous Western Trust services. Cardiac investigations, women’s health and chronic disease services will be provided along with a renal department, a 40-bed ward, outpatients, imaging, GP and children’s services and day procedures.
Altnagelvin Hospital Radiotherapy Unit
Work is underway on the £31.5 million unit. The 16,000 square metre site will include a 35-bed ward, MRI, CT, and x-ray facilities, a medical physics suite, and four linac devices (for use in cancer treatment).
It will also provide chemotherapy, clinical support and staff and café facilities.
Ballymena Ambulance Station
An estimated £4 million is being spent on a new divisional headquarters with paramedic accommodation for the Northern Trust. Work is underway on the project, which will also have garaging facilities for 12 ambulances.
Craigavon Infrastructure Projects
Upgrades costing £15 million are being carried out on the mechanical and electrical infrastructure of the Craigavon Area Hospital site, which is situated in the Southern Trust area. The mechanical phase includes the replacement of boilers and pipework. Changes to electrical infrastructure include the installation of a new high voltage supply and distribution system.
