Ward 14 Refurbishment – Burnley General Hospital
Client – Equans
Project value – £912,087.53
We were appointed as Main Contractor for the refurbishment of Burnley General Hospital Ward 14, within a fully operational live hospital environment.
The project was strategically divided into two defined workstreams: Legacy Works and Lifecycle Works, allowing critical fire safety upgrades to be delivered alongside wider refurbishment activities.
The Legacy Works focused on rectifying historical non-compliances, including the removal of existing internal partitions that did not meet current standards and the replacement of defective or inadequate firestopping. These elements were upgraded to achieve full compliance with current fire safety, compartmentation, and passive fire protection requirements, supporting the hospital’s wider fire risk management strategy.
The Lifecycle Works delivered a comprehensive internal upgrade to the ward environment. This included new wall protection systems, full decoration, installation of suspended and MF ceilings, new curtains and tracking systems, vinyl flooring, upgraded firestopping and fire doors, and the replacement and installation of FF&E. All associated mechanical and electrical works were undertaken, including full testing and commissioning. Our scope also covered end-to-end project management, site establishment, logistics planning, health and safety management, infection prevention and control measures, stakeholder coordination, quality assurance processes, and the compilation of full handover documentation.
Key Challenges
The primary challenge was delivering the works in a live hospital with heightened sensitivity to dust, noise, vibration, and public interface. This was managed through fully segregated, dust-controlled work boundaries, enhanced housekeeping standards, continuous monitoring, and close coordination with hospital stakeholders.
Logistics were also constrained by a centrally located site compound unsuitable for large vehicles. A detailed logistics strategy was implemented, incorporating scaffold, hoist and telehandler access, restricted vehicle sizes, programmed deliveries, and a designated safe offloading area. To further reduce disruption, operatives and materials accessed the ward via an externally enlarged window opening, significantly minimising interaction with patients, staff, and visitors. Traffic management plans and trained banksmen were deployed to safely manage hospital roads and pedestrian routes throughout the project.