Project progress: August 2024

We are now getting very close to the date of handover where the building is considered complete and control is passed to Solent NHS Trust, and as we enter the final stages we are counting down the weeks to the end of September.

By the end of August, the second floor had been formally declared as dust free after cleaning works, which includes hygienic cleaning of ductwork, so no further works that  create dust will take place. Cleaners will remain on site on a full time basis and anyone who works or visits the floor now needs to wear dust covers on their shoes to maintain the standard of cleanliness.

The vinyl flooring is now completed on both floors, all the doors are now hung and in place and the last of the light fittings have been installed and tested.

The windows inside the building have all been cleaned to remove any marks or dust, and the final stages of plastering have been done on the stairwells. Ad hoc items such as the hoists in some of the bedrooms have also been installed, and we are continuing to install room furniture that will be fixed to the walls, such as sinks, kitchens and cupboards.

Air tests have been carried out, that monitor air flow around the building and identify any leaks. The building has scored well on the air tests carried out so far which means it is well sealed and ventilated.

External to the main building, the metal trellis has been completed on the terrace, which includes some decorative coloured metal leaves that will move gently in the breeze, and in the courtyard landscaping has started, with planters put in place to bring some more greenery to the area.

Ground workers are paving the areas around the building, installing slabs and kerbs to ensure the walkways are in place, and soon landscapers will arrive on site to create some small areas for plants and bushes to grow.

The building connection to the main Western Community Hospital is progressing well, with dry lining for the walls and ceiling plastering now completed. The new Snowdon ward kitchen, which is being modernised as part of the project , is being planned. This work will continue for a few weeks after the formal handover of the new building.