The Eye Centre at Northwick Park Hospital is one of the district hubs of the renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital, bringing expert eye care closer to where patients’ live. The specialist eye unit offers eye surgery as well as diagnostic, outpatient, and urgent care for a wide range of eye conditions, from cataracts and glaucoma through to general ophthalmology.

The hospital lighting upgrade project took just over a month to replace three hundred square fluorescent panels and strip fluorescent lighting with energy-efficient LED equivalents. In various locations, especially the exam/consult rooms, the new panels are dimmable DALI systems fitted to allow clinical staff more control over lux levels.

The operating theatre had new 600×600 LED panels fitted in the ceiling.

As a theatre were included in the project, cleanliness was imperative. The onsite electrical team ensured all possible prep work was done outside the theatre to avoid any risk of contamination.

Barton Knight Contracting’s operatives started the project by working on some areas in the day and some out-of-hours during the night. This approach was agreed with the Trust beforehand.

However, as work progressed, (and patients included a number of vulnerable people with impaired sight), the team quickly decided with the client to adjust the schedule and move all electrical works overnight, while the unit was shut.

The electrical works could therefore progress more quickly and effectively, so the clinic could operate as normal.

Equipment was stored offsite in the day and delivered on a van to site every night at 8pm, after the clinic shut.

The night electricians worked until 4am, loading up the van with equipment and old light fittings to be recycled. This meant the clinical team could do a deep-clean so the theatre was ready and running for patients when the unit opened.

The project was successfully delivered on time and to budget with no issues.