SNBTS PCF

Safeguarding Scotland’s NHS during COVID-19 - NHS Louisa Jordan

The NHS Louisa Jordan is a key part of NHSScotland’s preparations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The temporary hospital, built in less than three weeks, is an impressive example of teams coming together to deliver the seemingly impossible through collaboration, focus and problem solving.

Built at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, construction of the NHS Louisa Jordan at Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus – a venue usually used for concerts and conferences - was a monumental effort by teams from across NHS National Services Scotland, colleagues from NHSScotland and other partners and suppliers.

Working at an incredible pace – while ensuring the highest of standards of patient and staff safety – the project team achieved operational readiness on the target date of 19 April 2020, delivering a fully functioning hospital, equipped with everything needed to deliver specialist patient care.

Our teams from National Procurement (NP), Health Facilities Scotland (HFS), and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) supported the development of the hospital by:

• mobilising our supply chain partners at speed in order to procure and supply a range of items to support ward set-up and hospital operations – our NP team and HFS Equipping team supplied everything the hospital needs - from personal protective equipment (PPE), clinical and patient equipment and beds to domestic products, items for pharmacy and labs, and more
• establishing a blood transfusion service for the new hospital – our SNBTS patient services team worked alongside NHSScotland clinicians and operational staff
• providing expertise in a range of other areas including clinical, training, facilities management services, pharmacy and communications – clinical staff as well as colleagues from our Programme Management Service, Health Facilities Scotland, Scottish Health Service Centre and Marketing and Communications teams were deployed

And although the facility hasn’t yet been required to treat COVID-19 patients, it’s been well used – with orthopaedic and plastic surgery outpatient consultations underway since the start of July. NSS has continued to support the NHS Louisa Jordan’s efforts to remobilise the NHS – ensuring that the hospital is equipped for planned healthcare for non-COVID-19 outpatients and supporting the planning and set up of elective services.

The construction of the NHS Louisa Jordan demonstrates the drive, professionalism and spirit of our workforce - and of those working in partnership with us to deliver the facilities needed to enable NHSScotland to protect health and save lives during these unprecedented times.

About NSS
A connected partner at the heart of Scotland’s NHS, NSS provides national solutions which improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland. Find out more about us by visiting our website or follow us on Twitter.