NHS Nightingale North West completed in just two weeks

The NHS Nightingale Hospital North West at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, opened on Friday, within just two weeks of work having begun.

The hospital was delivered by IHP (Integrated Health Projects), our healthcare joint venture with Vinci Construction UK, working alongside NHS staff, the Army, Mott MacDonald, Archus, BDP and NG Bailey.

Some 1,000 people have been involved in the project which has seen work going on around the clock to complete the 750-bed hospital from scratch within the Grade II listed building.

The hospital, which has been functioning since 13^th April, is equipped to receive coronavirus patients from across the region who do not need intensive care but still require treatment. This releases crucial critical care beds in existing hospitals.

IHP were asked to start work on Saturday, 28th March and within 12 hours our team was up and running in liaison with the NHS and the Army.

Handed over just 13 days after construction began, the facility’s 14,500m² of flooring could cover Wembley twice over. The hospital includes 104km of data cable, 45km of power cable and the 3,400m of partitioning.

Professor Michael McCourt, the chief executive of the Nightingale thanked all of the contractors and suppliers involved: “It has been incredibly humbling to see all the hard work that has gone into building a hospital out of nothing and in such a short period of time. No matter what your role has been, without you, this wouldn’t have been possible. Teams have worked day and night, in a challenging environment to achieve this and you should be very proud of your contribution.

“This hospital will play a crucial role in caring for Covid-19 patients and supporting hospitals across the region. By providing care for patients who no longer need to be in a critical care environment we will be helping to make sure the highest-level critical care beds are available for those patients who need them. This hospital will help save lives. On behalf of the NHS, the patients this hospital will care for and their families, I want to say thank you.”

"This is a time to work collaboratively for the greater good and there is no better example of construction making a positive and lasting difference for society than Integrated Health Project’s work on surge centres."
Paul Hamer, Sir Robert McAlpine Chief Executive

Sir Robert McAlpine Chief Executive Paul Hamer said: “Being able to rally our team in support of the NHS Nightingale hospitals, including Manchester, has been momentous. This is a time to work collaboratively for the greater good and there is no better example of construction making a positive and lasting difference for society than Integrated Health Project’s work on surge centres.”

Sir Robert McAlpine Healthcare Sector Leader Stuart McArthur said: “The strength of IHP has been thoroughly demonstrated by the way in which our people have been able to rapidly and seamlessly mobilise. The Sir Robert McAlpine team have been integral to these projects, providing clinical liaison, design management, programme management and commissioning skills, all delivered through a single common IHP platform.”

John Roberts, of IHP and Regional Managing Director of VINCI Construction UK, added: “The commendation from Professor Michael McCourt sums up the enormous effort made by everyone across the project. The teamwork between contractors, the NHS staff and the army has been superb, and the project is an excellent demonstration of the partnership and commitment within the IHP team and our suppliers. Everyone has done a great job and on behalf of IHP I want to thank everyone involved particularly colleagues in VINCI Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine, Mott MacDonald, Archus, BDP and NG Bailey.”