One Hatfield Hospital, Hertfordshire’s newest hospital, received a special visitor this week as local resident, the Lady Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield dropped in for a look around.
Cllr Sparks who lives close to the development, swapped her Chain of Office for a hard-hat, as she met the construction team for a special behind the scenes tour of the multi-million-pound facility. The new hospital on the Hatfield Business Park will bring a range of new healthcare facilities and services to the area when it opens in November, in a purpose-built facility, equipped with the latest diagnostic, medical and surgical technologies.
As a neighbour, Cllr Sparks was impressed with the plans and progress and took time to discuss the effect that the site will have on the local economy. Furthermore, she was intrigued on how local people will benefit and also what impact it will have on the on the environment and its immediate neighbours.
The One Hatfield hospital will have 3 theatres, 10 consultation rooms, 18 inpatient beds, 14 bedrooms for day care patients, a physiotherapy gym and outpatient diagnostic facilities, which include; fast-track access to XRAY and MRI.
It will employ around one hundred and fifty staff, many from the borough, in a variety of roles from consultants to hotel services. The two-story building on Hatfield Avenue will have 122 free car parking spaces for visitors and staff, plus a covered area for bicycles, as well as charging points for electronic vehicles.
Watch the aerial drone footage from September 2017
The Lady Mayor was shown how the energy efficient BREEAM-awarded project will have the lowest possible carbon footprint and was pleased to learn how it has been specially constructed with local residents in mind. The hospital has a managed recycling plan, the latest roof-top solar panel system for optimum electrical generation, plus a Combined Heating and Power (CHP) unit which also produces electricity.
In terms of minimising any disturbance to the local residents, Cllr Sparks was shown how special sound-shielding walls have been incorporated around the roof-top air ventilations systems to reduce disruption. Also, how the back-up generator is an insulated low-noise system, situated away from the houses, and finally how trees and hedge work will be provided along the Manor Road boundary.
Conlon, the site contractors, who have been on-site since March 2016 have worked tirelessly to build good relationships with the local community. They were recently awarded top marks in the Considerate Contractors Scheme and graded ‘Exceptional’ in the Community, Environment, Safety and valuing the Workforce category and achieving the highest possible rating of 5 stars.
During the project, they have provided a free skip for local residents, offered a free handy man service to all residents to carry out jobs such as window cleaning, car washing and gardening, as well as donating to the local schools, holding a drawing competition at Green Lanes Primary School and supported the local charity Isabel Hospice.
Mayor Sparks said:”I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, the building and facilities are very impressive. As well as the new jobs that the Hospital will create, I was particularly interested to learn how both One Hatfield Hospital and Conlon have not only worked hard to create a building that is sensitive to the surrounding neighbourhood, they’ve also worked to build positive relationships with local residents and assure me they will continue to play an active part in community life.”
One Hatfield Hospital will be the second hospital in the One Healthcare group and will be working closely with the NHS to reduce waiting times, as well as with insured patients and those who choose to pay for their own care.
The hospital hopes to become one of the county’s leading healthcare providers, attracting patients from across the area, and becoming home to some of Hertfordshire’s leading consultants and healthcare professionals.
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