Leading national engineering specialist, SES Engineering Services (SES) has supported the fight against the coronavirus recently completing the installation of mechanical and electrical (M&E) services at the new 460-bed NHS Nightingale Hospital North East in Sunderland.
Close to the Nissan plant on Wearside, the hospital will take coronavirus patients if units in the region cannot cope with demand. Constructed within a new Innovation Centre which will eventually be home to the Centre of Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (CeSAM), and forms part of the new International Automotive Manufacturing Park (IAMP).
SES’ team supported Geoffrey Robinson Ltd (GRL), a North East M&E building services contractor, by providing skilled labour for the project and worked 24 hours a day, seven days per week to meet the deadline.
Speaking about working on the emergency scheme, Steve Joyce, SES’ Regional Business Director North and Scotland commented:
“SES is delighted to have been able to support Geoffrey Robinson on such a vitally important facility for the NHS and the North East in the fight against Covid-19. I am also so proud of the team who have shown fantastic resilience and dedication providing around-the-clock support to deliver this dedicated coronavirus facility which will help save lives and take some of the pressure off local hospitals should the need arise.”
Regional Business Director, North and Scotland, SES Engineering Services
Neal Robinson, GRL’s Managing Director, added:
“It was both humbling and a privilege to be able to support the NHS and wider regional community in this way. Everyone working on the project has pulled together and shown what can be achieved in what can only be described as unprecedented circumstances. The atmosphere on site was a once in a lifetime feeling of comradery, and a willingness to work as one big team to get this done, for the health of the people in the North East and I’d like to thank everyone involved in making it happen.”
Managing Director, Geoffrey Robinson Ltd
Expressing her gratitude Dame Jackie Daniel, Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“This new NHS Nightingale Hospital will provide extra, specialist capacity to care for coronavirus patients from across the North East and North Cumbria, should the NHS need it.
“Completing this facility in a matter of weeks is a huge testimony to the power of pulling together to achieve a joint goal and all partners involved – from the NHS, construction contractors and partner organisations – have worked tirelessly to achieve this. My gratitude and thanks go to everyone involved.
“Health and care staff, and people in local communities across the region, can be reassured there will be additional beds for specialist care if it is needed.
Chief Executive, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Nightingale Hospital North East was officially opened on Tuesday, 5 May by The Countess of Wessex and local celebrities Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly via video link and live streamed.
