Behind the Building

 

In the eighth of our #BehindtheBuilding series looking at the new Emergency Care Building (ECB), we talk to Ric Wye who is a Site Manager for Nevada Construction.

What involvement have Nevada Construction had with the new ECB?

Nevada were responsible for phase one - the initial enabling works for the ECB. Our job was to make sure that the space was ready for the next phase of construction to begin. We started in March 2024 and completed the works in February 2026. 

We started initially by creating new storage for the main oxygen tanks for the hospital and moving them to what’s known as the O-road. We were then able to demolish the building that had housed the tanks outside the Emergency Department and then start the foundations for the new access ramp and ambulance courtyard. 

Whilst this was happening, we had to empty out some of the level 7 offices so we could create new areas for ventilation, to keep the Majors part of the Emergency Department running. We then built a new wall to split the old and new parts of the building, so that we could start to strip out what was the old Plym Theatres at the front of the hospital. The demolition team had to physically cut that part of the building off the other part, before they could tear it down.

We also had to move out and demolish the old Paediatric Emergency Department and construct a new permanent fire escape for level 7. Now the construction for the ECB can be carried out as a standalone new build, without impacting the services and demands of the main hospital.

What inspired you to become a Site Manager?

My Dad is a carpenter/joiner, so I naturally followed him from a young age, but I also took my own path at the same time. I’ve worked in everything from maintenance to fitting out buildings and running teams of guys, so I’ve worked across the industry to get to the point where I can manage a construction site. I’ve now worked with Nevada for about five years, and all my projects have been at Derriford Hospital. 

What’s it like working in healthcare construction?

Over the last five years with Nevada, I’ve been involved in about 25 projects at Derriford Hospital, ranging from toilet refurbishments to building cardiac theatres, as well as of course the enabling works for the ECB. Some of these have had strains and tight timescales, but the team are passionate about getting the work completed to ensure the hospital can keep the patient care going.

When you build a normal standalone building somewhere, like an office block, when it’s complete you know that people will just work there. But when you complete a ward refurbishment or something like the cardiac theatres, it’s important. You know that it’s going to help save lives, help make people better. So you definitely feel a sense of achievement when you complete these projects. 

Do you see the ECB as an important project?

It’s 100% an important project. I think the busiest, most chaotic place is an emergency care unit, because they have no idea what sort of ailment is going to be coming in, from the air ambulance through to a walk-in patient. The teams have got to be ready to adapt and be equipped for any eventuality. Having just finished remodelling the ambulatory unit, it’s clear they do not have enough space for what they need. Whilst you’ll always need more doctors and nurses, if you can have a bigger space with a more open plan layout, there’ll be more capacity to help and see more people. Some areas are quite dated and they’re in need of updated equipment too. The new Emergency Department is going to be lighter, brighter and have much easier access too, which is also important. 

For the first two years of his life, my youngest child had such bad breathing difficulties that sometimes I used to work from the children’s ward whilst he was in there, running the sites that I could. It’s important, especially for my kids, that they can come here and be seen quickly.