The construction firm MTX Contracts has delivered a £12m single-storey urgent treatment centre at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, using offsite steel modules to speed construction and minimise disruption to A&E services.
The facility has been handed over to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) and is expected to be fully operational by spring.
Built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), the project was completed more quickly, sustainably, and safely than traditional building methods, while also improving cost efficiency.
“Our team liaised closely with adjacent departments to maintain ambulance and patient access to the A&E department at all times,” said David Hartley, MTX Managing Director.
Hartley told Building Better Healthcare that the groundworks and road division took 18 weeks and the installation and fit out of the modular facility took 25 weeks.
Once open, the UTC is expected to relieve pressure on the A&E department and improve access to urgent care across Carlisle.
Features of the new facility
The single-storey centre sits alongside the hospital’s existing A&E department and includes 12 consultation rooms, staff and patient support facilities, a waiting area, and a rooftop plantroom housing mechanical and electrical services.
A total of 21 structural steel modules were manufactured offsite while site preparations were underway.
These were craned into position to form the building’s structure, allowing rapid installation of electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems once the building was weathertight.
The urgent treatment centre also accommodates Cumbria Health’s out-of-hours GP services and forms part of NCIC’s wider plan to improve access to urgent care across the region.
The UTC comes as Cumberland Infirmary has recently made headlines for its rare move to exit a PFI contract, reflecting broader efforts to enhance hospital services and infrastructure on the site.
A spokesperson for the Trust said that, "there is no connection between the UTC project and the voluntary termination of the PFI contract. The main focus for the Trust is now on recruiting more staff to enable us to fully open, as well as staff training and commissioning of the facility."
