Further good progress through winter months · The Main Works progressed well during the month of...
Transcript of Further good progress through winter months · The Main Works progressed well during the month of...
PROJECT NEWSLETTER August 2015
The Main Works progressed well during the month of July, with major mechanical chillers and air handlers arriving on site and being installed.
The structural steel erection on all three sections of the building is now complete, with roofing and guttering due for completion on Mental Health in August.
External Cladding is progressing well with the majority of cladding also to be completed this month. Feature cladding substrates will progress during August, with final timber tile and alpolic composite materials planned for installation in September.
ED / Inpatient Ward / Non Clinical - The internal fit-out of the lower ground floor is progressing well, with wall linings and ceilings nearing completion in the majority of rooms. Tiling and vinyl to rooms are advancing well throughout the lower ground floor.
Ground floor inpatient unit and ED partitioning and services rough is nearing completion. Tiling and vinyl works are well advanced. The prototype room in the inpatient ward is progressing well and a completed room is expected over the next reporting period.
Ambulatory Care - High level services fit out is well under way, with main services complete. The internal wall framing and wall linings are progressing well. Windows are well advanced and the building is substantially watertight. Louvres are expected in August to seal plant room areas Mental Health Sub-Acute Unit - Roof cladding and guttering is nearing completion, with the southern entry and window installation to be completed this month. Internal partitions have commenced. Tank Farm – Installation of structural steel is complete, and roofing got underway in late July, with cladding completed early August. The tank farm tanks have been delivered, with installation also well under way. Filling of the tanks for testing purposes has now commenced.
Photos: Left top - eastern façade of building 1; below -
all goes according to plan. Above: northern façade of
building 1.
Further good progress through winter months
PROJECT NEWSLETTER August 2015
John Purssey seems the ideal choice to steer the
establishment of a Multifaith space at the new
Byron Central Hospital, yet he can’t believe he
was chosen for the job, one that he performs on
a pro bono basis.
Now living in Byron Shire, John was born in
England where he completed a degree in
theology - not for clergy training, he explains -
and has travelled extensively throughout the
Judeo-Christian-Islamic world, as well as in the
Hindu and Buddhist cultures of Asia.
Among many memorable experiences was
visiting the giant Buddha carvings in the cliffs of
Bamayan, Afghanistan before the Taliban blew
them to pieces.
With a science degree also under his belt, he is
an IT expert, specialising in document
management, and volunteers further time as a
radio operator for the Marine Reserve in
Brunswick Heads.
The stained glass panel, currently at Byron
District Hospital, that will be made a feature of
the Multifaith space at the new hospital.
He is their chaplain as well as liaising with the
leaders of local churches when formal needs
arise.
Currently, and until the new hospital opens
around April 2016, he has his head and his heart
engaged in helping design a restful, welcoming
space for patients, family and friends, and
hospital staff, many of whom face challenging
personal experiences.
John says he has visited multifaith spaces in
other facilities, such as PA and the Charles in
Brisbane, and Caloundra. Working with the
project team, John is developing a concept that
will make people of any faith, or none, including
Aboriginal people, feel comfortable.
“There will be furniture, but the floors will also
have rugs where people can sit,” he explains.
“Encouraging informality is important. The entry
door will be set back from the corridor for privacy,
with a threshold area that includes water for
people who want to purify, as well as an ante-
room for depositing shoes.
“Instead of traditional religious symbols, we will
have a nature theme, including the installation of
the lovely stained glass panel with the marine
images, currently in Byron District Hospital.”
Creating a heart for the hospital
PROJECT NEWSLETTER August 2015
The Multifaith space takes shape. The stained glass
panel will be positioned on this wall space.
John completed a year’s training at the Multifaith
Academy for Chaplaincy in Brisbane, which
describes itself as being “committed to the
training and spiritual formation of students
nominated by Christian Churches and other Faith
organisations to operate as Chaplains and
spiritual carers in institutional settings and the
community in the spirit of ecumenism, having an
understanding and respect for all faith groups,
underpinned by the values of respect, justice,
love and compassion.”
This was followed by a one-year chaplaincy
placement at The Tweed Hospital.
FAQs about the new hospital
There has been widespread consultation and
discussion with staff and the community about the
planning design of the new Byron Central
Hospital. However, a number of matters of
interest continue to be raised about key aspects
of the project.
This interest is welcome, as it shows a high level
of engagement, especially by the many staff
members whose workplace will change both
geographically and functionally from June 2016,
when the new hospital begins operating. There
will also be earlier changes as services are
progressively established at the Ewingsdale site.
Answers to some of the key questions are
provided below.
Timetable for construction and relocation
Despite considerable rain this year, construction
work has progressed very well, and is on track for
completion in March 2016. This is a testament to
the whole project team, and the skills of the
construction company, Brookfield Multiplex, and
project manager, Savills Australia.
The final fit-out and external landscaping will be
undertaken in early 2016, with the new hospital
scheduled for LHD operational commissioning
between March-June 2016.
The NNSWLHD will work through a strategy for
move logistics which will be underpinned by the
priorities of patient safety.
Timetable for closing the existing hospitals in
Byron Bay and Mullumbimby
The two Byron Shire hospitals will be closed when
Byron Central Hospital is ready for occupancy.
Mullumbimby will be dismantled and the site
cleared. Community input will also be sought
regarding the future of the Mullumbimby site.
Byron District Hospital will be cleared out, and
sold.
PROJECT NEWSLETTER August 2015
Job security for current staff
Workforce planning has commenced and is currently underway. This is expected to take a few months to finalise, and includes consultations with relevant stakeholders during the process.
Review of existing position descriptions will be matched with expected functioning of the new Hospital. Some areas are an expanded service, and this will be taken into account.
Staff employment will adhere to relevant policies and legislation.
Parking & access
BCH will have 195 Parking bays, 28 bicycle
spaces, and 16 motorcycle spaces. A roundabout
will be constructed on Ewingsdale Road, to the
west of the site (between the hospital and the
highway) enabling quick and safe access for staff,
day-only patients, visitors and deliveries.
Imaging equipment
It has been reported that an MRI machine will be
installed. This is incorrect, however a state of the
art 128 slice CT scanner will be a major
component of the hospital’s imaging equipment
as well as General X-Ray, Ultrasound and OPG.
Will there be surgical services?
Following an EOI process that indicated
satisfactory interest from private providers NSW
Health Infrastructure is conducting a tender
process to engage the private sector in potentially
providing day surgery for both public and private
patients in the Shire. If successful, this model
would provide surgical services, similar to those
operating successfully in other areas of NSW.
The tender process will be carried out over the
coming months.