Kind hearted builders in North Wales are signing-off the first phase of new health care facilities for local patients by transforming an area at their own cost. The BAM team at Glan Clwyd Hospital, in Denbighshire, have been hard at work on the hospital’s £13 million new Cancer Treatment Unit for patients across North Wales since November 2008. Rob Bailey, BAM’s project manager says, ‘We handed over the new centre this month, and after working closely with the people using it we felt we would like to contribute even more for them. We realised we could enhance the original landscape design and develop the space further to catch the visitors’ eyes and lift everybody’s spirits. We agreed a scheme and work has just been completed on the court yard which contains raised planting areas for easy access along with locally sourced materials which contrast perfectly against the new building. The enhanced landscaped area is now worth about four times as much. ‘We were delighted to create space for a water feature which was donated to the scheme by a former patient who had been treated in the existing cancer treatment centre.’ The area landscaped by BAM is adjacent to the new patient waiting area and has been donated to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board). The company started work two years ago extending the Cancer Treatment Centre and is at the beginning of work on the Critical Care Unit, its third project on site for the Trust, because it is also refurbishing some of the wards. Dr. Matthew Makin, Chief of Staff for Cancer Services said, 'I have been impressed by the team from BAM who have been extremely sensitive to the needs of patients and the clinical staff during the major building works around the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre. The work they're planning on the landscaping will make a great difference in terms of creating a pleasant, natural environment which I have no doubt will enhance the experience of patients and their carers.' Rob Bailey adds, ‘Building things on this scale is all about forming good partnerships and getting on with those around you. It’s a pleasure to work alongside the people using the facilities. So far we’ve delivered Easter eggs dressed as a BAM bunny, taken students around the site, participated in charity events and helped with gardening projects to name a few. That all helps bind you together and we have identified more opportunities for contributing throughout while we construct their Critical Care Unit. Many of our team are local too, around two thirds of them live within twenty miles of the project, and we understand how much this partnership matters to the community.’
