Return to Projects

Asset Assessment

The review of asset performance for a health care facility is a complex and demanding task involving Health Planning, Facility Planning and Engineering expertise. We offer a highly interactive approach, which will generate a solution that will meet your needs. The essential components of such a review require a clear understanding of the tasks to be performed in the delivery of health services and consequently the physical facility requirements necessary to accommodate these tasks.

Garry’s experience includes involvement in a number of strategic Asset Management projects within South Australia covering a diverse range of facilities including:

  • Preparation of a Capital Facilities Sustainment proposal for the Hills Mallee Southern Region of SA encompassing 13 Hospitals, 3 major Regional Community Health Services and numerous outreach service delivery centres within the Region;
  • Provided Health Planning and Facility design support as part of a consortium of consultants commissioned to prepare a Condition of Asset and Functional Adequacy of Aboriginal Health assets throughout SA;
  • Prepared a number of Condition of Asset Reports pertaining to the preparation of Master Planning Studies for Hospital Redevelopment Proposals;
  • Participated in the South Australian Health Commission Condition Based Asset Review (CABS) of a number of sites within the Hills Mallee Southern Region;
  • Provided Health Planner input as part of a Queensland Consultant Team developing a model for assessing functional adequacy of Health Facilities for the South Australian Department of Human Services. The project included application of the model to Critical Care areas of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and was extended cover three Hospitals in the Southern Metropolitan area of Adelaide and included detailed assessment of the results.  The study methodology was tested as a potential tool for the assessment of Bio-medical Equipment at SouthPath Laboratories on the Flinders Medical Centre site.

Benefits which you will obtain by using our team for your project include:

  • our recent experience in the development of the AMPS process provides a good base for our understanding of the task. We have assisted DHS in the conduct of pilot studies at Lyell McEwin Health Service and at SouthPath in a trial of the system for the assessment of Bio-Medical equipment, as well as participating in the original Southern Asset Assessment Project (SAAP) as part of the Capworks Consultant Team;
  • use of a customised team of specialists brought together expressly to provide the best outcome for your project;
  • we can be competitive – our lower overhead allows us to do more for you within our fee;
  • the practice principals will be doing the work – we specialize in the performance assessment of and concept design for refurbishment of Health facilities;
  • Information gathered will be recorded and will include a photographic record of exceptions with an estimated value greater than $10,000.00.
  • we will carry out a high-level assessment of the condition and performance of the existing facilities by reviewing available documentation, interviewing users and a visual inspection of the assets; and
  • we will record and report the performance of assets not performing to acceptable standards and will provide an order of cost solution for remedial action and assessed risk associated with the problem. The methodology used to indicate the level of expenditure required for each asset performance situation identified will include estimation of broad quantities and the application of area rates, building elemental rates and estimates of itemised cost allowances as appropriate.

To meet the objectives of an Asset Assessment consultancy it may be necessary to conduct several aspects of the project in parallel:

  • assess existing facility against current design standards,
  • analyse and document facility demand,
  • identify areas of poor performance within the current facilities, and
  • prepare options for facility upgrading to meet service delivery needs.

It is essential that the existing facilities be assessed for their ability to meet the functional requirements of the Health Unit Service Plan. It is also useful to make comparisons between differing models of service in the context of the physical facilities, as it may be possible to easily adopt elements of service delivery planning which require minimal capital expenditure.

Our approach to the conduct of an Asset Assessment consultancy will generally be as follows:

  • Review Existing Documentation
  • Facility Inspections and data input;
  • Extended analysis of significant issues;
  • Preparation of Draft Report;
  • Consult with the Project Executive to review findings;
  • Final Report and Recommendations.

Southern Asset Assessment Project (SAAP)

Garry Coff participated as part of The Capworks Group and provided Health Planning and Health Facilities planning support for the pilot asset assessment process conducted across the three Southern suburbs Hospitals in early 2001. The three sites included Flinders Medical Centre, Repatriation General Hospital and Noarlunga Health Services and involved a quick but thorough review of the condition and fitness for purpose of all areas of the facilities.
Garry has since assisted the Department of Human Services Asset Services Branch in the development of the AMPS Asset review tool. He managed the pilot review of retained areas of the Lyell McEwin Health Service and participated in the pilot review of the Express Blood Laboratory of SouthPath at Flinders Medical Centre to test a variation of the tool developed for the assessment of Bio-Medical equipment.

Condition Based Asset Review (CABS)

Rural Hospital Asset Assessment Project

Garry was commissioned by Colliers International to conduct a review of assets throughout the Hills Mallee Southern Region of South Australia using the CABS data collection tool developed by the SA Health Commission and the Queensland based Capworks Group.  The process required a detailed audit of all buildings and assets in the Region and produced a data base of information that could assist in the speedy approval of requests for funding to Government.

Women’s and Children’s Hospital

Garry Coff was commissioned as part of the ‘Capworks Group’ Team in February 2002 to assess the performance and condition of assets within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Babies Unit at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. The study revealed that there is a significant shortfall of area between the design workload and the area currently available for the care of Neonates.

Condition of Asset and Functional Adequacy of Aboriginal Health Services Review

The South Australian Aboriginal Health Services in conjunction with the South Australian Department of Human Services and the Commonwealth Department for Health and Family Services commissioned a team in 1999 which included Garry Coff Consulting Services as Health Planner to conduct a review of Aboriginal Health Facilities throughout South Australia and to prepare recommendations for development of the sites to meet acceptable condition and functional standards.

During the course of this Consultancy the team, comprising Health Facility Planner, Structural/Civil Engineer and Services Engineer (over-viewing infrastructure), visited most Communities across South Australia including a number of Homelands, and met with representative groups to discuss existing service levels and concerns. Communities inspected included:

  • Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands comprising Amata, Fregon, Iwantja (Indulkana), Mimili, Nayapari (Murputja), Pipalyatjara (Kalka), Pukutja (Ernabella), Watarru, Yunyarinyi (Kenmore) and Umawa;
  • Point Pierce Community (Adjahdura);
  • Port MacLeay Community including Raukkan (Ngarrindjeri);
  • Coober Pedy Umoona Aged Care Corporation;
  • Ceduna and Ceduna Koonibba;
  • Yalata/Maralinga Health Clinic & Housing;
  • Goolwa (Ngarrindjeri); Murray Bridge (Kalparrin Nungas, Kaingani Tumbetin Farm);
  • Berri including Aboriginal Alcohol Program;
  • Gerard Community Health Centre at Winkie;
  • Port Augusta including Davenport Community Health Centre – Pika Wiya;
  • Port Lincoln Aboriginal Community Health Centre (PLAHS);
  • Parks Community Health Centre – Aboriginal Health Unit.

The study involved physical inspection of all premises associated with Health Service delivery and staff accommodation across South Australia and included extensive discussion with users to determine fitness for purpose and potential for upgrade to meet acceptable standards. The study was completed in June 1999 and recommended expenditure of approximately $ 8 million to meet the projected need.

Referee Mr. Don MacDougall
Manager, Asset Planning
Department of Human Services, Asset Services
Level 7, CitiCentre, 11 Hindmarsh Square
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Telephone: 8226 6136
Facsimile: 8226 6023

Eyre Regional Health Service Master Planning Consultancy, Eyre Peninsula, SA.

Garry Coff Consulting Services was commissioned in February 2003 to conduct a review of Health and Aged Care facilities throughout the Region and to report on suitability for use, building condition and potential for future site and building development. The consultancy initially covered Ceduna District Health Services, Eastern Eyre Health & Aged Care Services (Cleve, Cowell & Kimba), and Mid West Health (Wudinna, Streaky Bay & Elliston) and was extended in 2004 to include Lower Eyre Health Services (Tumby Bay & Cummins).

The consultancy included broad brush Master Planning Concepts for each facility to enable short term upgrading of substandard and high risk areas of operation and to develop potential use for under-utilized areas of each facility within the context of a longer term strategic planning framework.

Concepts ranged from relatively minor alterations to Streaky Bay Hospital, to extensive re-development of the facilities at Ceduna and included analysis of region wide service initiatives that would improve quality control for linen handling, sterilization of instruments and Stores management and better utilize existing building stock throughout the Region.

Referee Mr. Stephen Ramsdall Manager,

Planning & Service Development

Eyre Regional Health Service

Telephone: 86 820 915

Facsimile: 86 825 590

Wiltja Program and Anangu Education Services

 Hostel and Administration Accommodation, Hampstead, SA.

 The project involved the preparation of a detailed brief of requirements for the occupants and the preparation of concept plans, within strictly limited budget parameters, for the recycling of vacant buildings on the Morris Hospital Site at Hampstead, in the North-Eastern suburbs of Adelaide. The recycling and upgrading of these poorly utilized, but sound, buildings as hostel accommodation for High School age Aboriginal children from remote South Australia involved careful management of spaces and areas to address many issues of culture and behaviour management.

Garry Coff consulted with the client groups to determine a brief for the organisation, prepared design solutions and assisted the Architectural team to ensure that all operational and functional requirements were incorporated into the finished facility.   The project involved extensive consultation with tribal representatives from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands and the Department of Education & Children’s Services and was completed in mid 1997 at a cost of approximately $ 1.6 million.

Referee Mr. Rudi Victora
Manager, Asset Planning
Department of Human Services, Asset Services
Telephone: 8226 1703
Facsimile: 8226 1583