Nmcn : to support NHS with safety systems replacements

nmcn's Asset Security business unit has been selected by Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to design and install replacement fire security systems across its estate of three major hospitals in Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Goole. The works are valued in the region of £10m across three estates, and will see nmcn teams support the NHS to ensure the safety of staff, patients, visitors and contractors.

The first phase of work is currently underway at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, where a new fire alarm system is being installed across the hospital estate and the old system decommissioned.

Funding for the works comes in part from a recent Government initiative to support NHS trusts with a maintenance and refurbishment backlog. The £600m pot of additional funding released across 178 NHS trusts, is part of £1.5 billion capital funding announced by the Prime Minister in the summer as part of the NHS build back better initiative.

The project comes following Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock's commitment in December to conduct 20 major hospital upgrades across the country which will deliver immediate benefits and will provide NHS staff with the facilities they need to provide world-class care to their patients.

Due to the complexities of working in a live hospital environment, nmcn has worked closely with the NHS estates team to collaboratively design a delivery approach set to minimise impact to hospital staff, patients and visitors, while systematically working across the estate to ensure system compliance at all times during the works.

Carrying out this work during a pandemic has brought its own challenges and we have worked closely with the Trust to ensure that our teams fully complied with infection control measures put in place to keep us, the patients and hospital staff safe.

Uzair Osman, Commercial Director for nmcn's Asset Security business unit, said: 'NHS staff across the country are going to tremendous efforts to ensure the safety and health of colleagues and patients in their care. We are humbled to be supporting these efforts by working collaboratively to ensure safe and protected working environments in these critical hospitals. We look forward to continuing to work with the NHS estates teamsto proactively support their programme of systems improvements and compliance.'

The work has been procured under the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) 'Soft Facilities Management, Asset Compliance and Security Services' Framework, on which nmcn secured a place in 2020. The framework gives all NHS and public sector organisations access to nmcn's Asset Security team with direct award and mini-competition procurement options for:

• Security assessments, review, testing and design services
• Alarm system monitoring and maintenance
• Supply, installation, maintenance and monitoring of CCTV systems
• Staff call services
• Fire risk assessments
• Active fire safety solutions

Mark Edgar, Associate Director of Estates Projects, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: 'The safety of our staff, patients and visitors is paramount to us and, having been through many months of planning and development, we're delighted to be working with nmcn to replace our fire security systems. The first phase of the programme is currently underway at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby and we look forward to working with nmcn to continue this work.'