5 September 2011
The £219 million redevelopment of St Helier Hospital has taken another step forward with a team of expert ground surveyors boring holes of up to 200 feet across the site in preparation for building work to start.
A team of specialists spent a total of three weeks drilling bore holes to check that the ground near to where demolition work will take place is strong enough.
They also drilled holes in the car park to make sure that the ground is strong enough for the construction of a brand new multi-level car park.
A special drill, which resembles a miniature oil derrick, was used to bore down between 66 feet - 200 feet (20 metres - 60 metres).
Tim Wilkins, project director for the St Helier redevelopment, said: "Since securing the funding to redevelop the hospital, we've been busy behind the scenes doing lots of planning to get work underway, including getting detailed designs drawn up.
"Whilst there is still lots to do before we build the new wing, it was great to get the ground surveyors on site. Their 25 foot high drills were hard to miss and the work they carried out is key to getting everything in place for the JCBs to arrive on site and to start knocking down the parts of the hospital that will be replaced."
Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, said: "I've met with the team leading the St Helier redevelopment on several occasions and know they're busy making all the necessary plans for the redevelopment to happen. However, it's great to see real work starting on site and I look forward to seeing the bulldozers arrive in the not too distant future."
Asked what happens next, Tim added: "The next stage of the redevelopment involves the complex job of moving people and clinics out of the area that will be demolished so that we're ready to start knocking it down in spring 2013.
"Hundreds of staff work in these areas and tens of thousands of patients are treated there each year. As such, we need to make sure we get it exactly right to avoid unnecessary disruption."
Key facts about the redevelopment of St Helier Hospital:
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£127 million to be spent on new hospital building;
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£40 million spent on upgrading remainder of the site;
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£17 million local care centre;
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346 beds, including 50 per cent in single rooms;
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Purpose-built outpatients department;
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New pharmacy department;
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Centralised eye clinic;
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Multi-decked car park and improvements to hospital entrances/exits.
Demolition work is due to finish in October 2013. The redevelopment is due to be completed and opened in early 2017.
