Feasibility Study

Situation at a Glance

London is a city of more than nine million people and so far 705,609 cases of Covid-19 has been
reported while 14,687 people died after tested positive for this virus (UK Government, 2021). Number of
patients admitted to the hospital reached nearly 10,000 in February 2021 while the number of patients
on mechanical ventilator beds during the same time rose up to 1000. The existing healthcare
infrastructure is unable to handle the varying number of cases, especially in case if they start getting
increased. In order to meet with this issue, NHS Organization is going to build an emergency hospital by
contracting it to Group E, where the number of beds, specifically with ventilators, will be increased on
priority.

Project Description

This project involves the conversion of 87,328 square meters of ExCel exhibition center in east London
into a hospital, consisted of 500 critical care beds in 9 days and increases the total capacity to 4,000
beds in 45 days. The initial 500 beds would be fully equipped with oxygen and ventilators. Health and
Safety control measures like patient spacing, sprinkler protection, smoke ventilation, evacuation
strategy, electrical points, etc. would be in proper place. Hospital will also provide support services like
pharmacies and therapy treatment along with the mortuary.

Technical Feasibility

To meet the requirements and protocols, the hospital plans to have a control area, control room,
administration space, mortuary, intensive care beds, recovery area, and discharge area. Temporary
generators and oxygen tanks to supply the beds along with other related items would also be needed to
ensure the constant power supply. The conversion of convention hall into an emergency hospital need
to be completed in 9 days only and with the appropriate manpower, i.e., 200 project staff, the first
phase of project will be completed within time. The hospital needs to establish a proper evacuation
plan, fire-fighting system and sprinklers. All these items would need inspections as well as approvals that
may take time but with the involvement of government authorities in the project, approvals can be
attained in a fast track.
Operational Feasibility

The project will require around 200 project staff to initiate work on the facility. Later on, the manpower
requirement for the project would be expected to reach 12,000, though this needs further discussion,
when the facility would be functioning on full capacity. The project staff, coming in 2 shifts from 5
different locations of the city, would need the transportation services that may provide by the London
Transportation Department. Army Engineers Group will accompany Group E to build the hospital.

Financial Feasibility

The project will cost £57.4 million to get completed in the short period of 45 days. The finances would
be provided by the UK government who has hired Group E through NHS Organization. Therefore, all the
work orders as well as the payments would be the responsibility of NHS organization. Also, NHS
organization would set the payment terms with vendors such as paying for materials after 30 days of
delivery of materials on site.

Risk Assessment of the Project

In order to deliver a successful project, the project shall use the Avoidance Risk Management approach
that includes identifying, assessing, monitoring, and controlling the risks present in the project. To make
sure the quality of constructions and all materials provided is up to the standards, project management
and quality assurance teams of NHS organization would be present at the working site full-time. Vendor
would be responsible to send the material after careful inspection at their sites, as per the specifications
mentioned by NHS organization. Group E would inspect the material when it’s reached to the premises
of work location. The delays may expect as the first part of project (preparing 500 critical care beds) is
supposed to be completed in 9 days only. To mitigate this risk, Army Engineers Group will be working
with Group E to make sure the timely delivery of the project. Furthermore, as the project holds many
stake holders including NHS Organization, UK Government, suppliers, contractors, army engineers,
project staff, London Fire Brigade, and London Transportation Department, loss of communication may
occur that may bring ambiguity or chaos to the overall project. To combat this risk, an interactive
communication plan will be developed and used to achieve a successful project delivery. Also, detailed
documentation will be done on daily basis in order to keep record of all the activities and progress of the
project and therefore alleviating the risk of being late at the delivery of project.
Works Cited
UK Government. (2021, March 19). Coronavirus numbers in London. Retrieved March 19, 2021, from
Mayor of London: https://www.london.gov.uk/updates/news-feed