Modular critical care unit for the Royal Stoke University Hospital

Modular critical care unit for the Royal Stoke University Hospital

In January 2015 MTX working under Kier Health, completed the installation of a new modular critical care unit for the Royal Stoke University Hospital under the newly formed University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.

The Requirements

The Royal Stoke University Hospital required a modular extension to the existing SSCU to provide an additional 12 bed critical care unit, including a single bed isolation room.

The Solution

In August 2014, MTX were successfully awarded the contract to design and construct a new modular standalone CCU facility. The two storey unit comprised of a 12 bed critical care ward complete with a singular isolation room on the ground floor, ancillary accommodation such as storage and utilities and a new standalone modular plant room at first floor level. The project commenced immediately and followed a tight programme. After a short yet well managed design period, off-site construction began and the fit out of the new modular CCU commenced at MTX’s quality controlled manufacturing facility. During this time, the substructure works to the site building were completed. The building was installed in October and once in Situ, fit out works were completed within just 13 weeks including commissioning and defects. Internally the scheme was fitted out to a HTM and HBN specification complete with concrete floors throughout, designed with HTM 08-01 floor vibration requirements in mind. Being critical care, each bed space was provided with a multi-movement medical gas pendant which was fully articulated in both the x and y axis’ due to MTX providing a three metre internal floor to ceiling height. This requirement is rarely achieved within the modular industry and only by clever design could MTX make this happen without any exposed services sitting above the CCU.

The new modular building has been designed with an external appearance comprising brickwork at ground floor level to match the existing, adjacent Lyme building and a Kingspan clad plant room.

Main considerations

The site was located in between the existing Lyme building and a busy maternity unit. Additionally the hospital’s main drop off point was sited immediately in front of the construction area which presented numerous logistical challenges. The sequence of the individual work processes were carefully planned and managed to ensure that the required programme was achieved whilst minimising disruption to those areas. Throughout the construction programme MTX also maintained the existing fire escape from the maternity unit which was less than 3metres from the face of our building.

The delivery of the building modules was carefully co-ordinated and scheduled as positioning required craning them over an occupied area of the hospital.

The impressive modular building extension, which was handed over to the Trust on 26th January 2015, was successfully completed just 24 weeks from our date of order and within budget. The result is a facility which offers a quality of build and finish identical to that of traditional build, whilst using the fast track modular building technique.