ISIS has utilised innovative construction techniques to add a brand new ward to the Beleura Private Hospital, with large pre-fabricated structural modules manufactured in NSW and shipped to the Mornington site.

Mr Brett Patterson, ISIS Victoria General Manager, said this technique was employed to ensure minimal disruption to staff and patients in delivering a safe and modern facility for client Ramsay Health, all while the hospital remained fully operational.

“Construction in a healthcare environment is delicate, and rightly so. It is a sector that simply cannot afford to shut down - operations need to continue, patients need quiet time to recuperate and staff need a safe and clean environment,” he said.

Mr Patterson said operational continuity was the key to success on this project, as works took place in a fully functioning hospital, including a live theatre complex.

“These factors would challenge any construction project, but our experience in the health sector meant we had the expertise to successfully and efficiently work around them,” Mr Patterson said.

“It was absolutely vital to ensure critical planning for noisy works, contain any dust for hygiene purposes and focus on safety for patients, staff and visitors.”

He said new modular construction was undertaken of an 810m² ward with 25 single bedrooms, which included carparking and landscaping.

“We constructed what we could off-site, and installed it on-site quickly and quietly at a time that caused the least disruption to patients and staff.”

“A day chemotherapy area was also created by converting existing ward rooms as an extra effort to minimise disruption,” he said.

ISIS was engaged by Ramsay Healthcare to complete an upgrade and addition to the existing hospital, including sterile storage, theatres, holding bays, recovery, admin area, staff amenities and plant room, as well as mental health ward upgrades and additional ward rooms and common areas.

Mr Patterson said a range of Ecologically Sustainable Design initiatives were employed across the project, including new carpet with 35% recycled green star certified content.

“ISIS also utilised specially coated low maintenance, low VOC, 100% recyclable, vinyl flooring to reduce embodied energy use of natural resources and chemical cleaners over the life of the product, as well as low VOC paints and low formaldehyde board, energy efficient light fittings, water efficient fixtures and fittings and sun shading to external glazing,” he said.

ISIS also completed the upgrade of the Warringal Hospital Day Oncology Centre in 2012, and was recently appointment by Ramsay Health to undertake the Ramsay Healthcare Donvale Hospital Prefab Ward project.