Ashford Theatre Ventilation Project

MAC was recently selected to provide Cost Management (stages 1-6) services in order to oversee a £2.8m budget for the construction of a new operating theatre room (Theatre 6) at Ashford Hospital.

The project was given the green light in response to the high demands on the facility from patients across Surrey, and the key aim of the brief was to install an Ultra Clean Ventilation (UCV) system to reduce levels of post-operative infection, which are directly proportional to the level of airborne bacteria within an operating room.

MAC oversaw the formation of Theatre 6, including the installation of a UCV system and the upgrading of the existing ventilation system. Alongside this, modernisation and ancillary works were carried out to existing Theatres 1 and 3. Individual Air Handling Units (AHU) were also required for Theatres 1, 3 and 6, which were externally situated on the Hospital rooftop.

The project was heavily services-led, with the Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) costs accounting for 70% of the construction total.

All works were to be conducted within a live hospital environment with the remaining Theatres in operation whilst works were ongoing. MAC had to further ensure that all work was carried out in compliance with Covid-19 guidelines. The scope of the project was also expanded to include the modernisation of Theatres 1 and 3.

A further 5 weeks was added to the project completion time due to asbestos removal, client variations and Covid-19 restrictions.

The MAC team successfully oversaw completion of the Ashford Theatre project in January 2021. The department is now future-proofed for the next ten years, ensuring that the area remains safe for staff and patients.