Darling Downs Health says work is underway at Warwick Hospital to bring the facility “up-to-date with the latest fire safety requirements”.
The $1.3 million project being carried out by FK Gardner and Sons Pty Ltd (FKG Group) will involve the temporary re-location of both Hanlon and Phillips wards at different times in an effort to minimise disruption to patients and staff.
Darling Downs Health Warwick Hospital Director of Nursing Anita Bolton this week said work has commenced “to set up a temporary ward on level one”.
“The staged project is expected to be completed by the end of February 2020,” Anita said.
“The temporary ward on level one will enable, firstly, the relocation of Phillips ward to enable works to be carried out on level two.
“Once completed, Phillips ward will return to level two, allowing for the temporary relocation of Hanlon ward from level three to level one.
“Maternity rooms, birthing suites and theatre however will remain on level three for the duration of the project.
“Extensive signage will be in place to direct patients and visitors during the works.”
A Darling Downs Health spokeswoman said
“additionally, there will be some potential for noise that could disturb patients”.
“While we will try to minimise the disturbances, ear plugs will be made available,” the spokeswoman said.
“We thank patients, visitors and staff for their understanding while this important work is carried out.
“The Health Service has worked with Queensland Fire Emergency Services on the project to ensure the hospital is compliant with the latest fire standards.”
The fire safety upgrade follows a previous refurbishment of the Emergency Department and other areas at Warwick Hospital, also carried out by the FKG Group and officially opened in November 2018.
At the time a spokeswoman said that project involved “the refurbishment of the Allied Health Department, relocation of the rehabilitation area and gymnasium, construction of a new temporary Emergency Department, demolition and refurbishment of the hospital’s main Emergency Department, and upgrade of technical services”.
“The project scope also included all electrical works in the Emergency Department such as the removal of all redundant cabling, lights, data outlets, switches and associated components,” the spokeswoman said last year.
“A new dedicated electrical distributed switchboard was also installed in the Emergency Department to control the electrical reticulation circuits, all new lighting, switching, data and communications installed under the project, as well as upgrading the nurse call system to suit the new Emergency Department layout.
“The team also completed the restructure of essential and non-essential power for the Emergency Department, as well as all mechanical works.
“This was not the first project undertaken at Warwick Hospital for the FKG Group, with the Minor Works team undertaking a refurbishment of the hospital’s kitchen in 2017.”
