ENGIE Solutions working on the ground in Reims to help the Courlancy private hospital

The Courlancy private hospital in Bezannes, near Reims, consists of three wings of buildings that house wards which normally accommodate up to 380 patients. Initially, the wards started by reducing congestion at the university hospital by taking in patients with Covid-19. Then, technical solutions had to be found to provide more sterile filtration in the patient accommodation area.

In the remarkable time of just four days – it would normally take a month – ENGIE Solutions’ teams and their supplier Afpro Filters were able to bring in equipment from the Netherlands, equip the hospital wards and then filter them. “They came to help us depressurize 20 intensive care rooms and continuing care and obstetrics units,” says Laurent Marxer, deputy real estate director of the Courlancy group. “They used very high-technology filters for the areas receiving patients, which instead of filtering at 80% can offer 99.95% protection. It took no less than 80 hours of work to ventilate these rooms and make them available to patients.”

Solidarity at all levels of the team

Thanks to the exceptional commitment of technicians, managers and purchasing departments, the hospital was ready on time. “The ENGIE Solutions technicians completed the work on March 19 at 3:30 pm. At 4 pm, the clinic welcomed its first two Covid-19 patients in the hospitalization section,” continues Marxer. “We had met the challenge!” The facility is currently housing about ten patients and plans to open an additional floor to continue absorbing the influx of new arrivals.

To cope with this situation, the hospital had to erect two additional tents for patient reception and triage. Here again, the solidarity of the ENGIE Solutions teams was apparent: “We received electrical cabinets which enabled us to equip these tents with lights, electricity and heating, which were given to us free of charge,” adds Marxer. “I’m very moved by such solidarity, which is shown every day. I would like to warmly thank all these partners.”
 

“We worked hard together, in close liaison, without counting our hours. I would like to thank them on behalf of the patients, of course, but also on behalf of the nursing staff, who are better protected. This is important. It doesn’t stop us from risking our lives every day, but it is a big help and it reassures the nursing staff. I could feel this immense chain of solidarity mobilizing for us. The ENGIE Solutions technicians know the site by heart and are committed far beyond a service provider relationship. This solidarity manifests itself every day and it strengthens us in the difficult times we are going through.” 
Laurent Marxer.
 

 Find out more about ENGIE teams’ actions and operations to respond to this global health crisis: check out all our articles in our special report, Covid-19 Mobilization.