North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust
Facts and figures
- Modular building constructed off site
- Once delivered to site, the building was erected in seven days
- From start on site the project was delivered in six months
- High-quality interiors
Emergency Assessment Unit
Interserve constructed the new 42-bed Emergency Assessment Unit at North Tees Hospital as a direct response to the Trust's need to enhance Acute Emergency Services. The project was handed over to the Trust within a year, within budget and defect free.
The 1,710 sq m single-storey extension to the existing department has expanded the number of assessment beds on the Stockton site and provides a range of facilities for acute emergency surgical care, including single en-suite rooms, an isolation ward and high dependency beds all grouped around a central core.
Working to achieve the Trust's objective "to create a new facility to the latest healthcare standards in surgical care, to provide a new model of care for patients with emergency medical needs in a calm environment, built in a very short space of time to the prescribed budget", the team realised at an early stage that a new approach to the procurement of the healthcare facility was necessary in order to meet the tight timescales.
Innovative approach
Our solution was to use off-site modular construction provided by Yorkon Offsite specialists. Off-site construction not only limited on-site work and satisfied the tight project programme but helped us maintain a high level of construction standard and interior quality.
The benefits
- Off-site construction cut vehicle movements to site by up to 90 per cent and reduced carbon emissions and congestion
- Minimised noise, dust and disruption to patients, staff and the local community during construction
- Construction waste was reduced compared to conventional methods of construction
- The modular system improved thermal efficiency for lower running costs and carbon emissions
- Patient-focused and future-proof design
- Quality is improved and there is reduced future maintenance
- Design flexibility internally and externally
- Greater cost control for the Trust
A safe, spacious, calm and therapeutic environment for patients and staff alike, the Emergency Assessment Unit has enabled the Trust to deliver a high level of clinical care and benefit from operational efficiencies. Completing the building within six months allowed the Trust to meet waiting list targets.
Estates Director, Kevin Oxley, was delighted the work was completed so quickly: "This is a fantastic building. We are impressed with the benefits of the off-site approach, its accuracy, quality and the speed of construction, which has a direct impact on the patient experience."
