GP WALK IN CENTRE – WESTMORE UNIT AND A CONVERSION OF SPACE INTO OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
NHS Brent decided to use the partnering services available from Brent, Harrow & Hillingdon Local Improvement Finance Trust (BHH LIFT) to deliver a refurbished clinical wing to house it's new GP Led Health Centre. As such BBH LIFT worked with Ashley House plc to define a scope and project brief of our requirements, this work was carried out jointly with the PCT team and an excellent working relationship was developed. Ashley House and BHH LIFT established a full design and development project team who had the full complement of experience and knowledge required to best understand our needs.
With this level of support NHS Brent confidently committed to the project with BHH LIFT, who successfully delivered the right solution whilst demonstrating good value for money. In addition, the project was delivered in a challenging 12 week period without delay.
The close working relationship developed between Ashley House and BHH LIFT enabled an additional project, a small office refurbishment, to be added to the contract and undertaken in tandem without any disruption to the initial project. The construction team on site were sensitive and responsive to the PCT needs, particularly as both projects were refurbishments to different parts of the PCT headquarters, which is also a large health centre, and it was critical to the PCT that there were no interruptions to the operational element of the building and its services.
Jo Ohlson, Director of Primary Care and Community Commissioning
“Together NHS Brent, BHH LIFT and Ashley House provided a full design and development project team that were able to deliver the right solution at the right price, on-site to completion within a 12 week period.” Jo Ohlson.
WEMBLEY CENTRE FOR HEALTH AND CARE
One of the key aims of the government’s Equitable Access to Primary Medical Care (EAPMC) programme is to ensure that medical facilities become increasingly personalised to the needs of communities in deprived areas.
In Brent, West London, the Primary Care Trust (PCT) was looking to provide better facilities and more flexible opening times for local people using its Wembley Centre for Health and Care. Through BHH LIFT they drew up a set of requirements to create a new surgery space. This was designed specifically to allow the community to access care out of regular hours, such as during the early mornings or at weekends.
BHH LIFT’s private sector partner, Ashley House plc worked with the LIFT Company to develop a comprehensive design and build strategy. With the original identified area proving too small the Calcutt Wing of the Wembley Centre for Health & Care was identified which required substantial refurbishment.
The choice of location, explains Ieuan Jones, regional development manager for Ashley House plc, minimised disruption to existing services while also meeting time and budget requirements.
Flexibility “was essential” says Mr. Jones of the project and planning delivery. “Our on-site working relationship” The layout and specifications were agreed between the key partners before work began on site in July 2009. And the regular communication between BHH LIFT, Ashley House and the PCT continued throughout the project. Thanks to this close partnership it only took three months to complete the work on the 300 square metre facility.
At the same time, BHH LIFT was able to deliver additional refurbishment for the PCT. A former nursery space on the same site was identified during the project as another area in need of refurbishment, and Ashley House plc were able to transform this space as an extension to the main contract. The nursery refurbishment, which was completed within the original project timeline, has provided office space for about 30 NHS staff, who were relocated internally. The build of this new facility, adds Mr. Jones demonstrates the effective cooperation that the LIFT Company and PCT had developed.
As for the main project, Wembley Centre for Health and Care now has a brand new surgery facility that offers a top quality clinical service to the local community at flexible hours. “It has provided a much needed service to the local area,” says Mr. Jones “For the PCT, the patients in the community is the key. This surgery provides both, flexibility to these patients, and also delivers additional services to the community.
