The benefits of offsite construction methods continue to be evidenced, with new modular facilities opening at hospitals in Scotland and West Sussex.
Portakabin was contracted to deliver two separate specialist theatres, complete with a central plant room, for Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, a specialist hospital for burns care and reconstructive surgery.
The single-storey buildings are located between existing structures on the hospital site and will help to increase capacity for day surgery.
The addition of a new plant room will also enable easier access for general maintenance work.
Each theatre is fitted with surgeon panels, an anaesthetic room, prep areas, scrub areas, and dirty utility services.
And they took just six months from order to handover, highlighting the benefits of modern methods of construction (MMC) in delivering infrastructure with speed.
Flexibility and resilience Steve Jenkin, chief executive of Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a leading specialist surgical hospital for the South East, theatre capacity is vital.
“Our two new modular theatres give us the ability to treat more patients in a timely way and maintain a high level of patient care.
“Located apart from our main theatre block, the modular theatres give us additional flexibility and resilience and take our total number of theatres to 12.”
Portakabin has also recently started work on a new 30-bed ward as part of NHS Forth Valley’s new National Treatment Centre project.
Situated at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Lambert, the ward will have 30 en-suite bedrooms, two of which will be specially adapted for overweight and obese patients.
The modular ward will also feature waiting rooms, nursing stations, a multi-disciplinary team room, consultation room, and a reception area.
Construction
Increasing capacity It is being funded as part of a £17m investment in the new National Treatment Centre, which includes two additional operating theatres and state-of-the-art MRI scanning facilities.
The unit, which is due to open early next year, will help to increase surgical and diagnostic capacity.
Lee Connolly, head of project design and engineering at Portakabin, said: “The new Forth Valley facility will form part of a network of new National Treatment Centres being developed to increase capacity and reduce waiting times across NHS Scotland.
“With increasing pressure on the NHS, we know how much this new facility will mean to the local community and are delighted to be able to help support staff in continuing to provide high-quality, safe and effective care.
“A modular solution from Portakabin enables the hospital to quickly adapt to keep up with changing patient demands, without comprising on quality or complexity.
“The facility has all the capabilities of a typical build with a shorter programme time, thanks to the flexibility and speed of modular construction.”
