As the new c£40m Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at the Manor Hospital edges closer to completion, Gianni Ciavardoni says the people of Walsall will be proud to use their new facility.

The 36-year-old is a Senior Site Manager for Tilbury Douglas Construction, main contracting partner for the project, which is due to complete later this year.

Work on the multi-million pound project will significantly improve Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s emergency care facilities and capacity.

The Urgent Treatment Centre and Emergency Department, includes Resus, Rapid Assessment and Treatment areas, a dedicated Children’s Emergency Department, co-located Paediatric Assessment Unit, an Acute Medical Unit and provision for Ambulatory Emergency Care services in a future phase.

Father of two Gianni, who has worked for Tilbury Douglas for 16 years, is perhaps prouder than most to see this project coming to fruition.

As a local family living in Walsall, both Gianni and his daughter were born at the Manor Hospital and Gianni’s wife teaches at a nearby primary school, so the new provision is well recognised by them on a personal level.

“I feel proud to play a part in contributing to such a significant new asset for Walsall, which will be integral in providing quality care in my community,” said Gianni.

“My family are proud and very interested in the development and its progress. I have a lot of family and friends who live in Walsall and will no doubt benefit at some point from using this addition to the hospital.

“I think it’s a great looking building and very spacious inside. It’s going to be a state-of-the-art facility ensuring the residents of Walsall and surrounding catchment area have the best possible emergency care.”

Having started working on the project during the initial pre construction phase and having overseen the early site investigation works, Gianni returned to the Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at the end of February 2022.

In the meantime, he has worked on other healthcare projects in the West Midlands, including the Nightingale building, followed by two demolition contracts at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Gianni has seen major changes as the work has progressed and believes both staff and patients will be impressed.

“The team has done a fantastic job so far and the building will look and feel fantastic once it is complete,” he said. “I think the staff will enjoy working there and appreciate the space and layout.

“COVID-19 was a key challenge trying to co-ordinate and plan works, while ensuring the health and wellbeing of our workforce and supply chain was at the forefront of our process.”

As someone who has experienced the current Emergency Department as a patient himself, Gianni feels the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre will offer a serious upgrade.

“The patients will appreciate the layout and flow and hopefully have an improved experience, despite the circumstances of having to come to hospital,” added Gianni.