Great Western Hospital

Swindon

Public Sector

April 2023 through to March 2026

£1.8m

Project Highlights:

Efficient Delivery in a Live Hospital Environment – round-the-clock team and full-time on-site supervision allow critical areas, including A&E, to be completed quickly with minimal disruption to patients and staff.
Durable, Hygienic, and Sustainable Flooring Solutions – use of hard-wearing materials such as Forbo Marmoleum and Polyflor safety flooring ensures long-lasting performance in high-traffic areas, reduces maintenance needs, and supports NHS sustainability goals.
Cost-Effective and Safe Installation – limited variety of materials achieves economies of scale, while adhesives and products are COSHH-compliant and suitable for live hospital environments, ensuring both safety and efficiency throughout the three-year project.

The Challenge:

The Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, operated by the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, continues to evolve since opening in 2002. Following a major extension in 2005 and a £33.5m expansion in 2024 to enhance urgent and emergency care, the hospital is expanding its facilities to improve patient flow and ensure care is delivered efficiently based on clinical needs.

As part of ongoing improvements under a framework agreement with the Trust, the client requires comprehensive flooring works across wards, treatment rooms, and communal areas. Their key needs include minimising disruption to patients and staff, providing durable and safe flooring solutions for high-traffic areas, and ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure.

The project presents several complexities. Working in a live hospital environment means access is restricted, and much of the work must be carried out of hours to avoid impacting patient care. Sensitive clinical spaces require careful planning, sequencing, and coordination to maintain operational efficiency. Additional challenges include uplifting existing flooring, repairing subfloors, and installing stair nosing, Forbo Marmoleum, and Polyflor safety flooring, all while complying with strict healthcare safety and hygiene regulations. Supply chain considerations, including materials sourced from overseas, also require careful management to meet project timelines.

The combination of operational, logistical, and regulatory constraints demands a proactive and flexible approach to ensure the works are completed efficiently, safely, and to the high standards expected in a hospital setting.

The Solution:

Working on a live hospital site, our team follows a detailed programme to deliver flooring works efficiently and safely across a wide range of areas, including wards, treatment rooms, staff facilities, communal spaces, corridors, and staircases. We carefully plan access to as many areas as possible to minimise disruption to patients and staff and liaise closely with the NHS and the client’s project team, Imagile, to coordinate schedules and ensure operational continuity.

Some areas require heavy-duty mechanical uplift to remove existing flooring and prepare the subfloor for new installations. Our internal supervision ensures that all works are carried out to the highest standard, with strict adherence to healthcare safety and hygiene regulations.

The new flooring solutions include Forbo Marmoleum, an environmentally sustainable product that combines durability, ease of maintenance, and a long service life, making it ideal for high-traffic hospital areas. In addition, Polyflor safety flooring and stair nosing are installed to enhance safety and accessibility throughout the hospital. Subfloor repairs and smoothing compounds are applied where needed to ensure a stable, long-lasting base for all finishes.

By coordinating closely with the client and NHS teams, and supervising all works internally, we ensure that patient care and hospital operations continue without disruption, while delivering high-quality, durable, and sustainable flooring solutions across the hospital.

The Results:

The flooring works at Great Western Hospital are part of the NHS refurbishment plans and form a three-year programme of improvements across the site. The project is delivered by a round-the-clock team, prioritising critical areas such as A&E, to ensure works are completed quickly and with minimal disruption to patients and staff.

Using a limited variety of carefully selected, hard-wearing, and hygienic materials, the project achieves cost efficiencies through economies of scale while maintaining durability for high-traffic areas. All adhesives and installation products are safe for use in a live hospital environment and comply with relevant COSHH regulations, ensuring patient and staff safety.

The team maintains full-time supervision on site, supported by a dedicated project manager, and liaises continuously with the hospital and the client’s team, Imagile, to coordinate schedules and manage access to wards, treatment rooms, communal areas, and critical spaces.

The results to date include:

Delivery within tight timescales, reducing operational disruption and maintaining continuity of care.
Installation of durable, hygienic, and sustainable flooring solutions, including Forbo Marmoleum and Polyflor safety flooring, designed to withstand high-traffic use while reducing long-term maintenance requirements.
Positive client feedback highlighting the team’s professionalism, coordination, and effectiveness in managing a live hospital environment.
Community and environmental benefits, including sustainable materials, reduced waste, and safe, accessible spaces for patients, staff, and visitors.

Overall, the project demonstrates a successful balance of speed, safety, sustainability, and cost-efficiency, ensuring the hospital continues to provide a high-quality environment for patients and staff while meeting the NHS refurbishment objectives.