The Birmingham office of Drivers Jonas has successfully project
managed the delivery of three new GP health centres in
Wolverhampton to the value of £3 million.
Appointed by Wolverhampton City PCT following Lord Darzi's
Review into the NHS in 2008, Drivers Jonas guided the PCT from
inception through an extensive site selection process before
driving the design, planning and construction process through to
successful delivery on time and on budget last month.
"The delivery of three new health centres within a nine month
time frame was quite a challenge and one which involved overcoming
significant and varied issues including the selection of new sites
for the facilities, the capping of mine shafts and cost
negotiations with the chosen contractor, Portakabin," commented
Julian Record, Partner within Drivers Jonas' Birmingham Project
Management and Building Consultancy team.
"Project managing three complex facilities in tandem was a real
test of our property and construction capabilities but one which
enabled us to successfully utilise all of our previous experience
of modular accommodation and fast-track projects to ensure a timely
delivery. This project has been the biggest single investment in
the city's primary care since the founding of the NHS in 1948 and
seeing these new facilities up and running is a fantastic
achievement and a huge benefit to citizens of Wolverhampton who now
have improved access to locally run, contemporary, GP facilities in
areas which have historically been under provided."
The project also included the preparation of Employers
Requirements, administration of the design and construction
contract between the PCT and Portakabin, monitoring of construction
works and coordination of the facilities with the PCT's overarching
Strategic Services Development Programme, for which Drivers Jonas
have also been appointed as the joint Project Director with
Wolverhampton City Council. Extensive legal work was also
required including the creation of some 28 legal agreements
surrounding the land, building, GP contracts and Agreement to
Leases across the three sites.
Drivers Jonas' appointment to the PCT followed the company's
strong relationship working alongside various NHS LIFT Companies
and other Primary Care Trusts where DJ Health acts for
approximately 100 Trusts in total, including Goscote Hospital in
Walsall, Walsall Teaching PCT, Heart of Birmingham PCT, Birmingham
East & North PCT, Great Ormond Street and Guy's and St Thomas'
in London.