A Community Diagnostic Centre designed to reduce waiting lists and deliver more rapid treatment for patients has been created at Milford Community Hospital as a design and build project by MTX Contracts Ltd.

MTX used modern methods of construction to complete the fully compliant facility faster, safer, greener and more cost effectively than conventional building techniques.

The new CDC includes two MRI scanners and a CT scanner, along with consulting rooms and offices and is set deliver an extra 11,000 MRIs and 9,500 CT scans as part of a 'one-stop-shop' for Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. The new facility will widen the scope of available diagnostic imaging services across the region.

MTX faced considerable challenges undertaking groundworks on the site adjacent to the Milford Community Hospital. Development of the site required rerouting water and gas mains, and amending the plans for the foundations after the discovery of substantial sandstone deposits. However, the MTX site team worked with the Trust and P&HS architects to overcome the issues, creating a poured concrete slab which forms a stable base for scanning equipment which is highly sensitive to movement or vibration. 

With the slab formation and concrete pour completed, MTX craned into position a total 27 precisely engineered structural steel modules which were factory-manufactured offsite while the groundworks were underway, to speed up project delivery. The groundworks package also included hard landscaping to the building entrance, a filtration pond and work on a new access road.

The CDC incorporates particular features required because of the sensitive equipment it houses, including a Faraday cage installation incorporated into the structure around the MRI rooms to avoid interference with other electrical equipment, and a lead lining to the CT Scanner room. The new building also includes roof-mounted solar panels to provide green energy.

An independent link corridor constructed by MTX connects the new CDC to the Milford Community Hospital.

Ross Dunworth, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust Deputy Chief Executive, said: “We were pleased to work in partnership with MTX on this project as they have extensive experience of constructing similar facilities at other NHS trusts.

“The new unit became operational at the end of March and patients are now benefiting from this state-of-the-art facility. This will improve health outcomes by helping to speed up diagnosis and access to potentially life-saving treatments, whilst providing a more convenient service to patients closer to home.”

Milford is one of five Community Diagnostic Centre projects completed by MTX in the space of 18 months. The urgent need for fast-track build of bespoke medical facilities is encouraging NHS Trusts to partner with specialist provider MTX for more rapid and cost effective delivery, which ensures a quicker return on investment.

MTX Managing Director David Hartley commented: “MTX has been privileged to partner with a number of NHS Trusts which recognise the benefits of using modern methods of construction to ensure rapid delivery, high quality and good value. Our team brings a huge amount of experience and expertise to these CDC projects and while they often share characteristics, each facility is designed and built to prioritise the requirements of the individual NHS Trusts.”