The organisation
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is recognised as one of the leading NHS trusts in the UK.
It employs more than 20,000 members of staff across its locations at Good Hope Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, and Solihull Hospital.
The challenge
When two of those facilities – Good Hope Hospital and Heartlands Hospital – had an urgent need for additional ward space due to rising patient numbers and the ongoing impact of COVID 19, they turned to McAvoy.
The solution
The trust had a requirement for two 48 beds wards at the existing hospital sites.
McAvoy worked collaboratively with staff to design and configure its SmartCare modular solution to make the best use of the available space on both sites, as well as accommodating link corridors to existing buildings.
Each two-storey building benefits from:
- A 24-bed ward on each floor
- Ancillary areas
- Clean/dirty utilities
- Staff rooms
- A nurses’ station
- Reception areas
- Toilets
- Sustainability credentials
McAvoy’s new SmartCare modular accommodation delivers exceptional levels of air tightness, with Good Hope approaching passivhaus levels.
This achievement is made all the more impressive given the fact it is a two-storey building and therefore – in normal circumstances – much more susceptible to air leakage.
Furthermore, with McAvoy’s SmartCare modular buildings being designed and built to enhanced energy and fire protection standards, the trust was able to avail of a truly-sustainable and adaptable space solution.
An offsite approach
Opting for an offsite solution meant the trust could have its new wards operational much more quickly than would have been the case if traditional methods of construction had been chosen.
Choosing an offsite solution also meant significantly-less site disruption.
And this was particularly important as the accommodation was being installed in a live hospital environment.
As evidence of how quickly the trust was able to have its new accommodation operational, it took just 14 weeks from delivery of the first module to handover at Good Hope Hospital, and 18 weeks from delivery of first module to handover at Heartlands.
Using offsite construction methods, the wards were delivered in 14 and 18 weeks
Rental – the preferred choice
The trust chose long-term rental as its preferred option and McAvoy was appointed by way of a competitive tendering process through the NHS Shared Business Services Framework to provide two 48-bed wards for a ten-year rental period.
Rental is often the preferred choice in cases where there may be issues raising the necessary levels of capital required for a permanent build.
In this instance the trust was able to avail of a financial solution that avoided significant capital expenditure and an accommodation model that allowed for relocation/repurposing either within the current location or at another trust site, if necessary, at a later stage.
Choosing a SmartCare rental option also provided the trust with increased flexibility in terms of business planning, with the option to extend the rental period.
The impact
“The delivery of two 48-bedded wards to the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust by McAvoy has enabled us to provide much-needed additional care to our communities,” said Richard Truman, estates development manager at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
“A modular solution was the right choice for us due to the need for additional ward space at both Good Hope Hospital and Heartlands Hospital following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The projects were delivered on time with minimal disruption which was vital to us as the wards were being installed in a live hospital environment.”
John Cunningham, principal category manager at NHS Shared Business Services, added: “The NHS Shared Business Services Modular Buildings Framework was created to provide NHS trusts with the options they need to offer effective patient care.
“The delivery of these two 48-bed wards is an example of that being put into practice.
“The SmartCare rental service that McAvoy have provided to the trust allows for both stability over a 10-year period, as well as the flexibility to relocate or repurpose the accommodation over that timeframe.
“At a time of rising energy prices when the NHS is also looking to meet its ambitious carbon reduction targets, the air tightness levels, and energy enhancements being offered by the modular builds represent significant value.”
The trust is renting the ward space, minimising the upfront investment needed and ensuring the facility is futureproofed
- Companies:
- NHS Shared Business Services
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
- McAvoy Group
