The specification of more modular buildings could breathe new life into NHS infrastructure. Martin Irvine, Senior Business Development Manager at Premier Modular illustrates some of the reasons why.
The government’s New Hospital Programme is at the centre of plans to augment hospital infrastructure by the end of the decade. A key part of the programme is the use of a new standardised construction process, known as Hospital 2.0, that is expected to make hospital construction 25% cheaper and 20% faster than traditional methods.
Modern methods of construction (MMC) will form an important part of this approach to ensure buildings are produced sustainably and efficiently. Whilst the focus of this investment will mainly be on large hospital projects, NHS trusts will still require smaller, specialist facilities to reinforce their infrastructure. For this, modular construction could also be the answer, providing trusts with high-quality buildings, at speed, for a well-rounded service delivery in the long term.
The implementation of Hospital 2.0 is expected to upgrade NHS infrastructure and standardise the design and build of new facilities, to minimise project costs and overrun times. MMC will form a key part of this standardisation procedure and will provide a means of building hospitals with fixed costs and shorter, guaranteed programmes, without the need for a high volume of specialist personnel.
These large hospitals are just one piece of the wider evolution NHS infrastructure is undergoing. Investments in smaller, bespoke facilities, such as discharge units or cancer treatment centres, hold equal importance when it comes to upgrading healthcare services and meeting future demand. Modular building solutions are a suitable match in this regard: the offsite manufacturing practice is buoyed with the speed and flexibility to deliver any number of peripheral facilities efficiently. As a flexible building solution, modular also enables individual areas and room types to be standardised and the building layout to be adapted in line with local clinical needs and site restraints. This is enhanced with the use of digital tools to tailor building designs to specific healthcare requirements.
Currently, the UK’s first modular barn theatre is under development and will feature three new operating theatres to expand procedure capacity. The project is a prime illustration of the opportunity for enhancing infrastructure through modular buildings and is one of several new surgical hubs the NHS is developing to deliver 780,000 additional surgeries and outpatient appointments.
Contrary to common misconceptions, modular buildings can be provided on both long-term and permanent bases and still be delivered in a short timeframe. This can be particularly beneficial where long-term healthcare facilities are needed urgently. For instance, provision of a modular facility that delivers inpatient care and discharge services, in a matter of weeks or months, could increase patient capacity and accelerate the flow of patients far sooner than if the building was constructed traditionally. Research suggests that modular buildings can accelerate project timelines by up to 50%. In turn, this could open the door to reducing waiting lists and delays in the emergency services department at a faster rate.
When it comes to mapping out building solutions for NHS trusts, it is imperative that designs comply with or exceed the technical building requirements of the NHS. As is standard, all modular buildings are built in adherence to the Health Technical Memorandas and Health Building Notes. Together, these specifications provide guidance on the design, planning and delivery of new healthcare buildings. In some cases, the flexibility of modular building enables it to naturally align with these guidelines. For instance, item 10.4 of the Health Building Note requests that the design and planning of radiotherapy facilities is flexible to ensure changes to clinical services and equipment can be accommodated with minimal disruption to services. The ability to reconfigure permanent modular buildings after implementation affords trusts the flexibility to modify such facilities as and when is required.
One challenge NHS trusts face when introducing new facilities on site is the disruption this could cause to services. Day-to-day activities, such as the transferal of patients or movements of emergency services, can be critical for patient care and be severely impacted by the long-term presence of a live construction site. The factory-based nature of modular buildings precedes a short assembly and fit-out period that only requires a construction site to be operational for a matter of weeks or months – far less than is typical for traditional construction practices.
Naturally, shorter construction periods create less chance for healthcare services to be interrupted and limit the impact of noise pollution and construction debris on the healthcare environment. It is also a cleaner method of building – on-site waste debris is minimised through the precise, lean manufacture of components for a smooth assembly later on.
In light of the continued pressure NHS trusts are experiencing, the injection of new facilities to account for periods of increased demand could be a much-needed step change. As the number of people seeking specialist healthcare grows, investments in quick, flexible building solutions, in tandem with the acquisition of new hospitals, could help to accelerate access to more resources. The challenge to grow and adapt to complex healthcare needs is ongoing for NHS trusts. Modular building is the fast-track solution trusts need to overcome it.
For more information visit: www.premiermodular.co.uk
Source: Offsite magazine issue 41
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