Gradus Enhances Safety at St Helens Hospital Redevelopment

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Contract interior specialist Gradus has supplied stair edgings and barrier matting for the redevelopment of St Helens Hospital, creating a safe and easy to maintain healthcare environment.

Representing the single biggest investment in healthcare in the local community, the £338million redevelopment of St Helens Hospital and Whiston Hospital is providing a wide range of services to patients. The state-of-the-art facility at St Helens, which includes a Diabetes Centre, Breast Unit, Therapy Suite and Diagnostic Suite, has been saluted by the Prime Minister as “world class”, due to its short waiting times, low infection rates and advanced equipment.

Gradus supplied stair edgings from its Folostair and ADM ranges, as well as Esplanade Plus primary barrier matting, creating a safe environment for all buildings users.

Ann Marr, Chief Executive of St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The new facilities at St Helens mean we are providing our patients with quality care in world class surroundings. Our patients are our number one priority and we are committed to caring for them in an environment that is safe and clean. The stair edgings and barrier matting from Gradus contribute towards that goal.”

Gradus’ Folostair FSL stair edgings were fitted onto the ceramic staircase in the hospital’s main atrium to help reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls. In line with the guidelines in Approved Document M (ADM) 2004, the hospital also installed the optional aluminium riser to produce a stair edging measuring 55mm x 55mm on the tread and riser. Specified with black pvc inserts to highlight the step edge and provide a visible contrast with the light grey floor tiles, the FSL125 stair edgings help the hospital to meet its duties under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

The Folostair FSL stair edging comprises an aluminium base section and slip- resistant pvc insert, providing protection for the ceramic step and a neat finish.  The modular stair edgings are easy to install and the insert can be replaced on site without disturbing the surrounding tile finish, making them ideal for applications subject to high volumes of foot traffic or where maintenance work needs to cause as little disruption as possible.

Completing the stair edgings installed at St Helens Hospital were Gradus’ ADM 55mm x 55mm aluminium stair edgings, which were fitted on six back staircases. Specified with Jet (black) inserts to provide visible contrast with the light grey vinyl flooring, the stair edgings are also available in profile designs suitable for use with heavy resilient flooring and carpet.

Gradus also supplied Esplanade Plus barrier matting for the main hospital entrance and two further access points, which was installed with Swift (black) wipers from the Boulevard 5000 range, helping to reduce the visibility of marks and stains and maximising the matting’s life cycle.

Ideal for use in interior areas subject to heavy foot and wheeled traffic, the matting comprises an aluminium base supported by rigid PVC-u bridging strips and flexible pvc hinges, which allow for minor undulations in the matwell. The aluminium scrapers combined with the nylon wipers are ideal for optimum soil and moisture retention, helping to maintain the appearance of the surrounding flooring and reduce the risk of slips and trips.

Rachael Robertson, Accessories Product Manager for Gradus, says: “As well as providing the hospital with fit for purpose products, both the barrier matting and stair edgings look great in the main entrance, co-ordinating with the hospital’s modern style. Plus, the products will also ensure that the busy atrium and main entrance remain safe for all building users.”

For further information on Gradus products, contact 01625 428922 or visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.gradusworld.com" www.gradusworld.com.