Recognising an extraordinary effort

Estates and facilities - recognising an extraordinary effort

At the start of the pandemic, the key pressing issue for NHS hospitals was to ensure that enough intensive care beds and respiratory support wards were available to treat for patients with Covid-19.

Our wards were transformed to meet the challenge. The estates and facilities team, supported by external contractors, worked tirelessly to ensure we were prepared for a national healthcare crisis. Below are some of the examples of the team’s extraordinary efforts.

Modifying dialysis equipment

Estates and facilities assisted in modifying existing Renal Dialysis NX Stage medical equipment (believed to be a UK first) to provide lifesaving support to Covid-19 patients who were being ventilated and required dialysis.

Creating of clean & dirty zones

1,000 gauge polythene airlocks were created, with zip sealed accesses, to maintain air locks from Covid-positive areas, within almost every clinical/surgical department at Northwick Park and specific wards at Ealing.

Securing the oxygen supply

Vacuum insulated evaporator (VIE) allows the bulk storage of oxygen for medical use. The high demand for oxygen in treating patients with Covid-19 resulted in the delivery pressure from the main VIE dropping, which had a knock-on effect to the secondary VIE. To compensate for this, the estates and facilities team increased the output pressure of the main VIE control panels. Due to the high number of patients requiring oxygen, calculations were carried out on the pipe sizes and flow rates to each ward. This allowed medical teams to evaluate what equipment could be used for patient care on individual wards. This work led to the development of a spreadsheet to accurately monitor the situation across the whole Trust.

As oxygen usage continued to rise extra pipework was installed to create additional flow. Oxygen usage was calculated each day to ensure supplies were maintained at optimum levels.

The team also carried out daily inspections on wards to check what equipment was in use. Inspections and maintenance on the main VIE plant increased to seven days a week, up from once a week.

New signposting

Estates and facilities brought over 5,000 Covid-19 signs to maintain social distancing and direct patients and staff. The signs were essential in helping to protect staff and patients.