A new £12m Urgent Treatment Centre at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle been handed over to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) by MTX Contracts Ltd, and aims to be fully operational in the Spring.

The single storey facility next to the existing Accident and Emergency Department provides 12 consultation rooms, along with staff/patient ancillary space, waiting area and a roof top plantroom to support mechanical and electrical services. 

Once it comes into operation, the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) aims to reduce pressure on the A&E department. It has been built by MTX using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to deliver the project faster, greener, safer and more cost effectively than conventional building methods. 

A total of 21 structural steel modules were manufactured offsite while work continued onsite to prepare for their delivery, shortening the overall project delivery time. The structural steel units were craned onto the site to create the fabric of the building and once weathertight, fit-out was able to quickly go ahead including all electrical, mechanical and plumbing module installations. 

MTX Managing Director David Hartley said: “With A&E departments under incredible pressure at this time of year, we are proud to hand over this new facility which will benefit staff and patients.

“Our team liaised closely with the adjacent departments to maintain ambulance and patient access to A&E at all times. We have extensive experience maintaining critical services during construction projects on hospital sites, and take special care to ensure minimum disruption to medical services, and reduce inconvenience for patients and staff.” 

The new UTC is part of a longer-term plan to improve access to urgent care services in Carlisle easing emergency department pressures, according to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC).

Cumbria Health, which provides out of hours GP services will also be located in the UTC.