McLaren Construction has been appointed on behalf of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust to deliver site-wide infrastructure works at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.

The £30m capital investment will bring improved estate resilience by delivering new primary high-voltage and low-voltage electricity distribution, back-up generators, a refurbished energy centre, a new vacuum-insulated evaporator compound, and associated structural and building works.

Ventilation improvements will include replacement of the air handling units serving the operating theatres, pathology, delivery suite, special care baby unit, and ward areas at the 482-bed hospital.

The extensive works require around 6km of armoured electrical cable, including 1km of high voltage electrical cable, 1.3km of busbars, nine new air handling units, 19 refurbished air handling units, and three 1.5kVA generators.

McLaren engaged with clinicians, the estates team, the facilities management provider, and other stakeholders to develop an 80-week programme to support the trust’s ‘business as usual’ policy.

The resulting programme of works avoids intrusive structural alterations impacting clinical delivery and allows sufficient lead time to engage with departmental heads.

Guy Pocock, associate director of capital planning and development at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, said: “The work at Queen Elizabeth Hospital will improve the electrical infrastructure, oxygen supply, and ventilation to clinical areas.

“This will bring the electrical and ventilation systems up to modern standards and create more resilience in our oxygen supplies to benefit patient care.” 

McLaren will be working with subcontractor, Dowds Group, with the work expected to be completed by June 2024.