Capital Development Team help to enhance patient experience

UHNM’s capital development team have been recognised for their outstanding performance during 2020/21. The team successfully delivered one of the most significant capital estate programmes seen in recent years at UHNM, with 128 schemes being delivered and supported by colleagues from Strategic Finance, Project Co and Sodexo to a value of £20M. The team worked weekends and evenings in order to ensure work could be accomplished, overcoming significant challenges associated with Covid-19 and availability of contractors. 

The team have now been given the Chief Executive’s Award in recognition of their dedication.

Tracy Bullock, Chief Executive, said: “The size and scope of the team’s achievements are amazing, particularly given the complexities associated with Covid-19.  What was most impressive is the fact that unlike a normal year where funding is identified and planned for the year ahead, a significant amount of the funding was provided by Government in-year, which resulted in the number of schemes expanding very significantly and huge pressures on the team to deliver ASAP or risk the funding being pulled.   

“Successfully managing these challenges was critical to ensuring works could be delivered to programme and within budget.  The schemes touched many parts of our hospitals, such as new buildings to respond to our fight against Covid-19 or refurbishment works and compliance works to support the provision of high quality, safe patient care.”

The team also delivered a range of UHNM Charity-funded projects, resulting in a significant difference being made to the hospital environment, patient experience and staff wellbeing. 

Lorraine Whitehead, Director of Estates, Facilities and PFI, said: “I am very proud of the team and our Strategic Finance Project Co and Sodexo colleagues for all that they have achieved and the difference the works have made to our patients and staff.

“It is testament to our clinical and non-clinical colleagues and their support for one another that all of these projects were delivered seamlessly in an incredibly busy work environment, whilst minimising the impact on our patients. My thanks go to all involved for making this possible.”