ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL, BELFAST

Construction of a new twelve-storey critical care building for Royal Victoria Hospital

Facilities include four operating theatres, thirty-two critical care wards, including eight isolation suites, forty-eight-bed maternity ward and individual en-suite facilities, two radiology x-ray rooms, a 16,146 sqft A&E department, as well as staff facilities.

The site was surrounded by multi-storey specialist units, including Ears, Eyes, Nose and Throat (EENT), Outpatients Department, Maternity Department and the Critical Care and Theatre Building. These all remained operational throughout the works.

Maintaining clinical cleanliness and prevention control was crucial. The spread of pseudomonas and legionella was of particular concern. All commissioning and testing of plant was conducted in conjunction with the Health Trust’s guidelines. Cleanliness on-site was also critical, partitions were erected to seal off work areas from the live hospital, and all personnel entering were required to wear shoe covers and paper overalls to minimise contamination.