Modular solution reduces backlog at North Devon Hospital

By Jo Makosinski | Published: 18-Feb-2023

New ward block is delivered in 20 weeks to address surgical backlog

Wernick Buildings recently completed a state-of-the-art modular hospital block for Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

North Devon Hospital required a new building to reduce its orthopaedic surgery backlog.

And, to increase its elective bed capacity as quickly as possible, the trust opted for a modular building.

Procured through the NHS SBS framework, the trust wanted a building that not only met its obligations under the Health Technical Memoranda (HTM) and Health Building Notes (HBN), but one that also exceeded full compliance.

For ease of use for clinical and maintenance staff from day one, the an ‘out of the box’ solution was chosen for building fit-out.

The modular solution was delivered in just 20 weeks

The modular solution was delivered in just 20 weeks

Marsh Pullen, capital contracts manager for the trust, said: “A modular building was chosen primarily because of speed of deployment, but also because it complimented the space that we had on site and minimised disruption and build time on the actual hospital site.”

Just 20 weeks after the trust placed its order with Wernick Buildings, they were welcoming their first patients.

They named the new £1.4m building the ‘Jubilee Ward’ and the modules were installed over two days.

A link structure between the main hospital building and the new modular building provides a continuous transition for patients.

“It is a 21st-century ward with all of the mod cons and all of the elements it requires to treat the patients we need it to,” said Marsh.

The hospital now treats an additional 25 orthopaedic patients a week in the new building, which has two four-bed wards, two one-bed wards, accessible bathrooms, ancillary rooms, and staff areas. Medical services supplier, MIG, provided specialist ward equipment for the project.

The ward has two four-bed wards, two one-bed wards, accessible bathrooms, ancillary rooms, and staff areas

The ward has two four-bed wards, two one-bed wards, accessible bathrooms, ancillary rooms, and staff areas

 

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