hVIVO Covid-19 Testing Labs & 11 South – Human Challenge Live Covid-19 Testing, Royal Free Hospital
Case studies > Capital projects
During the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Winter 2020/2021, RFH was identified by the Government to be a host for live patient trials and testing for the SARS. This was part of an initiative by the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This involved conversion of 11 South for live patient trials with up to 16 isolation type rooms, and conversion of ground floor laboratories to undertake testing. The client undertaking the trials and testing was hVIVO, a World leader in this field. hVIVO leased the facilities from RFH for a 6 month period.
Scheme highlights
Delivery of exemplar facilities for testing and patient trials earmarking the RFH profile and reputation in this area. Rapid Fast-track delivery in conjunction with Estates & Facilities. Significant element of medical equipment, IT, furniture, fixtures and fittings, and moves and relocations. Adaptation of 11 South for Covid-19 segregation. Substantive service provider element for hosting hVIVO, continual support by RFH through trial period. November 2020 to January 2021 delivery – 3 months.
Challenges
Quality delivery of an innovative product in itself but not actual project management on this occasion. This was due to the construction element of the project having already been commissioned via Estates instead of Capital Projects Team. Although there was a formal reporting and governance structure in place with RFH, BEIS & hVIVO, this was not configured in accordance with the Capital Projects model. Largely due to the extremely tight project timescales and turnaround of the commission. Capital Projects were tasked with strategic project management and often the roles and responsibilities of those delivering were not clearly understood. For example updates on progress to hVIVO not being clearly communicated. Other examples include multiple activities and workstreams not being co-ordinated under a single lead causing confusion and at times not meeting client expectations. This was reflected with Witnessing, Testing, Commissioning & Handover & Decommissioning with information not being transferred in a streamline manner, and activities not being synchronised. There was also numerous minor but time consuming variations and additions to scope where it was difficult to establish who was responsible to implement them e.g. installation of TV aerials. Basically Capital Projects should have been tasked with undertaking delivery of the overall project with control of cost, and a specific Terms of Reference suited to this type of project, and thereby having greater visibility of execution of the activities.
“Nothing was too much trouble for the team at RFLPS. Their adaptive approach allowed a state of the art ground breaking facility to be brought into being expeditiously.”
Key Details
A highly prestigious commission
Part of the World’s first Covid-19 Human Challenge
16 en-suite negative pressure rooms, ability to be locally and centrally controlled
Nurse Base, Stations, Rest and Changing Facilities, Equipment, Storage & Pharmacy
Full Laboratory Suite with Laminar Flow & Offices
Income & Revenue generation
Services Provided
RFH as Landlord by Tenure of 11 South & Labs
High Grade State of the Art Re-useable future proofed facilities including luxury ‘hotel’ type clinical accommodation
Strategic Project Management
Relocations & Commissioning
Quality Control & Healthcare Planning
