Nightingale Associates, as part of a Kier led supply chain has won a commission involving the refurbishment of part of Rotherham Hospital.
This is the practice’s first project awarded through ProCure21+ which was launched in October last year. This follows on from the practice’s successful delivery of projects under the ProCure21 framework.
The proposed refurbishment programme aims to improve the ward environment for patients and visitors. Initially, two existing wards will be redeveloped; the first will be a transformation of the medical admissions unit, and the second will be a medical ward refurbished to modernise the existing facilities and improve the patient experience. There are also a series of other schemes in the pipeline with which Nightingales may be involved.
The refurbishment has been commissioned by Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust as part of its strategy to update the hospital’s facilities and meet the needs of the growing number of patients. The Trust’s ‘Healthcare of Tomorrow’ programme aims to significantly improve the quality of care patients receive and how care is delivered, in a way that considers the needs of current and future generations.
The original ProCure21 process was developed as a result of the ‘Egan Report’ which highlighted the significant project benefits of collaboration between clients and supply chains. The Department of Health established the framework to improve the working relationship between NHS clients and construction supply chains. Since its launch in 2003, P21 has improved levels of performance and value for money, enabling schemes to be delivered faster than before, with greater cost certainty and enhanced design and construction standards.
Launched last October, ProCure21+ follows on from its predecessor in its commitment to long term partnerships. Learning from best practice, it also goes one step further by acting as a safeguard against poor practice and risks that traditional procurement methods have sometimes encountered. Ultimately, it will reduce the risks to the NHS and offers transparency and fair remuneration for the supply chains involved.
Nightingale Associates is one of the few practices which has been continuously involved with the P21 framework since it was piloted in 2003 and has designed many award winning schemes. The practice was invited to join the supply chains of four out of six P21+ PCSP’s (Principal Supply Chain Partners); Balfour Beatty, IHP (Vinci/Sir Robert McAlpine), Interserve, and Kier.
Nightingale is now in the process of developing the design solution. Work is scheduled to start on site in mid May with completion in late autumn 2011.
