Adapting to Covid

It has been an interesting eighteen-months for all of us. Who could have anticipated the year (and more) we have experienced, which has been hugely challenging for business across all sectors, including construction.

Working exclusively in medical environments Apollo’s activities were subject to constant change throughout the pandemic. Following the early days of uncertainty, the medical sector became incredibly busy responding to a huge increase in demand for additional scanning equipment to be installed in hospitals at very short notice.

If the past 18 months has taught us anything it should be

“Prepare, plan, adapt and never become complacent”

Now the big question is “What will happen after Covid?”

Will hospitals change the way they work?

We anticipate that in many ways they will. We are already seeing NHS hospitals implementing significant changes to operating procedures, mainly in creating independent, isolated wards and facilities where Covid patients can be treated, whilst allowing other hospital activities can continue unhindered. Hospitals have been, and continue to be, reconfigured to create entrances and spaces to separate infected and non-infected patients. We have been working closely with both the NHS and modular building manufacturers to find quick, cost effective solutions to providing these stand-alone facilities.

Added Value not Value Engineering?

The pandemic highlighted that need for flexible spaces, enabling hospitals to turn wards and patients rooms into ICU. However, historically the approach to 'value engineering' meant that in many circumstances the spaces were not flexible to easily enable this transition. ICU rooms require a higher level of emergency power redundancy for example which may not be immediately available in other areas of the hospital. A review of building regulations and standards as they relate to medical facilities is already underway. A keen component of this review will be the ability for hospitals to cope with future pandemics. Creating flexibility in design and construction, providing rooms that have the infrastructure required to be used for multiple purpose could provide the solution. Tight budgets have often meant 'value engineering' out resilience and flexibility in a building. Increasing the flexibility of emergency power supply and pipework for medical gases would have a marginal increase in the project budget, but create increased flexibility within the space increasing the NHS's ability to cope with any future pandemic

More local imaging clinics outside towns?

With greater demand for imaging equipment we are seeing an increase in enquiries for independent, local imaging clinics. These privately run clinics provide diagnostic treatments including MRI, CT and X-ray for the full range of patients including privately funded and insurance claims. With waiting times for imaging within the NHS reaching over twelve-months in many areas, these clinics may well be the way forward.

Given the past 18-months the one thing we can be certain of, is that this will bring significant and lasting changes to how the NHS and private hospitals deliver care, and we must be at the forefront.