Ensuring Safe and Reliable Drainage in a Live Hospital
This project was delivered at a live NHS healthcare facility providing essential clinical services to the local community. As with many NHS estates, the site operates a complex network of foul and surface water systems serving multiple buildings, courtyards, service roads and car parks. Effective hospital drainage is critical to preventing drain blockage, protecting patient safety, and supporting uninterrupted clinical activity within modern healthcare facilities’ management environments.
As part of its wider facilities management for healthcare responsibilities, the client required specialist support to investigate drainage performance concerns. The challenge was to deliver a coordinated programme of hospital drainage, including a detailed CCTV Drain Survey and targeted drain repair works, within a fully operational healthcare setting, while minimising disruption to patients, staff and estates operations.
The Challenge: Flooding Risks & Patient Disruption
The drainage network served high-footfall clinical and non-clinical areas, meaning unresolved drain blockage risks could have resulted in flooding, loss of sanitary facilities and disruption to patient care. The situation was made more complex by access restrictions, active service roads and the need to complete works without impacting day-to-day hospital activity.
The programme required multiple site attendances, careful coordination with estates teams and flexibility to work around operational constraints, while still delivering accurate survey data and permanent repair solutions.
The Solution: Comprehensive CCTV Drain Survey & Targeted Drain Repair
A structured, phased approach was implemented to assess, clean and restore the drainage network.
Initial works focused on high-pressure water jetting to clean foul and surface water lines and prepare them for inspection. A comprehensive CCTV Drain Survey was then carried out to assess pipe condition, identify defects and prioritise remedial actions.
Based on survey findings, targeted drain repair works were undertaken across the site. These included repeat cleaning, re-surveying where access was restricted, and installation of repairs in line with agreed recommendations. All works were completed by experienced engineers accustomed to working within sensitive healthcare environments, with areas reinstated and left safe after each visit.
The programme was delivered across multiple attendances, adapting to site feedback and evolving findings as works progressed.
The Outcome: Restored Drainage Performance & Long-Term Value
The project successfully delivered a full drainage assessment and remediation programme within a live healthcare setting.
Drainage performance across the site was restored, with defects repaired and the risk of recurring drain blockage significantly reduced. The client was provided with clear survey data and repair records to support ongoing asset management and future maintenance planning.
Importantly, all works were completed with minimal disruption to hospital operations, reinforcing the value of a planned, proactive approach to hospital drainage within a wider healthcare facilities management strategy.
Talk to your local Metro Rod specialist
We are always happy to arrange a free site assessment and no obligation quotations for any work you might need. Alternatively, you can call our emergency hotline number on 0800 66 88 00
Get in touch Drainage Services
