Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Fabric Improvement Programme

Overview

Carmelcrest were appointed by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust to deliver fire compliance upgrades, fabric improvements and full refurbishment works within Mount Vernon Hospital’s Nuclear Medicine Department and Chemotherapy Unit.

The programme included compartmentation works, fire door replacements, asbestos removal, new ceilings and finishes, full mechanical and electrical replacement, domestic water re-piping, nurse call installations, structural underpinning and associated roof and external works. All works were undertaken within a live oncology environment.

Challenges

The departments remained fully operational throughout, serving immuno-compromised cancer patients. Maintaining uninterrupted clinical services while undertaking intrusive structural and MEP works required careful sequencing, environmental controls and close coordination with Estates and clinical teams.

Service isolations, ceiling void works and structural interventions had to be delivered safely without disrupting patient treatment.

Our Approach

We implemented a phased programme with clear segregation between construction and clinical areas. All isolations were pre-planned and communicated in advance, with out-of-hours working adopted where required to minimise disruption.

Our DBS-checked workforce, experienced in live healthcare environments, worked to strict infection control and cleanliness standards to ensure safe separation from clinical areas. Fire stopping inspections, service testing and commissioning were carried out progressively throughout the programme to verify compliance with current fire and healthcare standards.

Outcomes

The works were completed safely within a live hospital setting, with no unplanned shutdowns and no disruption to patient care. The Trust received upgraded, compliant clinical facilities supporting improved safety, performance, and long-term resilience.