EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXTENSION
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust urgently needed to provide Emergency Department staff with a dedicated welfare space.
Client
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Timeframe
12 weeks
Size/Area
80m2
Project Completed
2022
Helping increase patient capacity
As pressure continued to build on the UK’s health service, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust urgently needed to transform their current staff welfare area at Conquest Hospital into space to increase patient capacity in the Emergency Department.
The hospital therefore needed to provide replacement space for their staff. The design needed to feel connected to the main hospital build but also provide a dedicated, quiet space for staff downtime.
Finding a rapid solution to meet clinical needs
As a result of other patient facing work taking place at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, space for staff welfare and storage was compromised and the Trust needed a partner to deliver a new space quickly and to the highest standards. The space would need to include a canteen, WCs, shower rooms, storage areas and lockers for staff.
Working in partnership with the client
Due to the department having other construction work already in progress at the Emergency Department, this additional work needed to run in parallel to these projects. The location of this hospital build was in close proximity to an ambulance route and patient car parks. Health Spaces coordinated activities carefully to ensure for minimal disruption to patient and staff flow. The urgent nature of the requirement meant time limitations would not allow for traditional hospital construction to be present on site.
“The installation of the modular build went very smoothly from the day it arrived to the final handover. Although it was very clearly a modular build, when it was craned in, the flow through from the departments flows very nicely. We had a single point of contact who liaised between the clinical staff and build team, and that line of communication worked really well.”
Ross Williams, Head of Nursing (Emergency Department)
Bespoke modular construction
Following site visits and feasibility studies it was clear that by utilising modular construction methods, an additional 80 square meters of hospital space could be created. Responding quickly with a site visit, Health Spaces worked closely with East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust’s estates and clinical teams to understand the clinical challenge and the wider plan across the hospital site.
Working in partnership with the Trust, Health Spaces developed a bespoke modular construction design, which was manufactured off-site including internal partitions, M&E services and finishes for a rapid on-site deployment. Modular hospital construction guaranteed minimal disruption to operations and existing patient flow by ensuring for reduced activity on site.
“The installation at Conquest Hospital went without a hitch and we are pleased to have the extension in place. Work will now continue to complete the final stage of fitting out the space before our Emergency Department staff can start using it, providing them with much needed additional staff facilities.”
Chris Hodgson, Director of Estates and Facilities
Operating in a live hospital site
As with all of our modular healthcare construction projects, we manage all deliveries by ‘Just in Time’ methods and engage with the Trust to ensure for minimal disruption to the hospital’s operations – a critical element for this build as it was in close proximity to the hospital’s Emergency Department.
“There was minimal disruption to the clinical staff and clinical space, and the build team were very respectful. The staff are really happy with the build and the development. It’s gone really well and the staff are really enjoying the end product.”
Ross Williams, Head of Nursing (Emergency Department)
Installation
Modular units were manufactured off-site to 95% completion and delivered directly to Conquest Hospital. The chosen form of modular hospital build ensured that deliveries to and from the site were minimal. The modular units were delivered by articulated HGV vehicles, and unloaded using mobile craneage which was coordinated with the Trust’s site management and health and safety teams.
Following a short period of internal fit-out works over a couple of weeks, the modular healthcare building was handed over to staff to start using the space.