The government’s 10-year Infrastructure Strategy pledges over £6 billion per year to create safer, more modern hospital environments across the UK, along with the NHS’ 10-year plan to introduce more neighbourhood health centres to communities.
In order to deliver this new infrastructure, speed will be a key factor as well as achieving both sustainability and future proofing.
This is the time for the construction industry to showcase its ability to build new, high-quality healthcare facilities quickly and sustainably, which will help the NHS achieve its construction and net-zero goals.
In a sector as fast moving as the NHS, where surges in demand are frequent and sometimes unpredictable, a building solution is needed that can respond quickly to changing needs.
Modern methods of construction (MMC), such as modular solutions, can be reactive to changing needs, on a temporary, semi-permanent or permanent basis, as evidenced during the pandemic with the nightingale hospitals that sprung up quickly to respond to urgent need.
Modular buildings are on average 50% quicker to deliver than traditional buildings, which is extremely beneficial when delivering infrastructure to the heart of a community, as it keeps noise and visual disruption to a minimum.
The majority of construction work is completed in a factory setting, so that the building can be installed quickly once on site.
This allows other workstreams to be carried out concurrently; design, onsite groundwork and manufacturing can all happen simultaneously, unlike traditional construction projects, which have to be approached done step by step.
The NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Modular 3 framework should also speed up project delivery with an approved list of suppliers.
This means that when NHS trusts embark on a project, they can consult a list of SBS-approved contractors and make an informed decision, rather than researching providers completely from scratch.
Removing the need for a lengthy tender process for a project ultimately results in a more streamlined route to delivery and quicker access to healthcare for patients.
As the NHS is committed to achieving net zero by 2040, sustainable building solutions are paramount and the natural circularity of rental options provide a host of carbon-neutral choices to assist the NHS in achieving its goals.
Modular units are designed to account for exactly what’s needed and are made to order, so there’s no waste material during installation, as opposed to traditional buildings, which take longer to construct and typically have more waste and higher carbon emissions.
Rental options also mean costs can be spread out, as they’re paid for on a monthly basis from OpEx budgets, rather than upfront.
The flexibility of rental modular units means they can be transferred from site to site, or use to use, once they’ve fulfilled their purpose and transformed to perform an entirely different function to continually meet evolving needs.
For example, if a trust is in need of clinical space for the years ahead, a rental semi-permanent facility can be provided until use case changes, at which point the unit can be updated or moved to support the new requirement, such as an outpatient facility. Reusing and repurposing units cuts down on material waste by maximising their length of use.
To ensure positive progress towards the NHS’ infrastructure targets, the construction industry has a responsibility to educate trusts as to the best building solutions to deliver high-quality, sustainable buildings, at speed.
With a variety of innovative solutions available that may not be widely known, construction companies and NHS trusts should have in-depth conversations about the unique challenges of the site and all available options before deciding the best solution for the project. Early engagement between all parties is always key.
Changing direction midway through a project can often cause delays, especially around design.
Decisions such as the number of beds needed, are often made at the start of a project but can be difficult to change when revisions to design are made later down the line. Utilising a modular solution adds significant flexibility through the construction process.
Beyond education on the best solutions, trusts still face challenges around approvals and funding. The abolition of NHS England should help to speed approvals up by reducing red tape, as the government takes the reins, but an even faster process would be highly beneficial for everyone.
For example, often, trusts receive approval for funding requests but are only given until the end of the financial year to use the remaining money. The ensuing pressure on the trust and the contractor to complete a project could be alleviated by a swifter approval process or, alternatively, granting an extended period of use for critical projects, such as infrastructure.
The government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy is a breath of fresh air, finally recognising that healthcare buildings are crucial to delivering better patient outcomes.
However, in order for the NHS to make the most of the government’s funding and increase its infrastructure outputs, while achieving its sustainability goals, the service needs to prioritise building methods that are low waste, high quality and quick to deliver.