Ward & theatre facility, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

"Despite the confines of a very tight site, the design has met the Trust's functional and aesthetic requirements with a remarkable degree of flexibility. It is proving to be a splendid new facility for the Trust."

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The Requirement

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had a requirement for a new theatre and ward building that would enable up to 10,000 additional inpatients to be cared for each year.

The Solution

Yorkon won the £9m contract to design and build the new three-storey healthcare facility at the Bradford Royal Infirmary. The project is believed to be the UK's largest single hospital scheme to be built using modular construction. It represents a total investment of around £15m for the Trust, including equipment and other associated costs.

The 4,950 sqm facility accommodates three new state-of-the-art 28-bed wards and six general operating theatres, with a full height glazed link to the main hospital and three ambulance bays.

The building was manufactured off-site at Yorkon's 60-acre production centre in York and craned into position as 123 steel-framed modules up to 14m in length. It is clad in York stone to complement the surrounding local architecture.

Comments from the Client

David Jackson, Chief Executive of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

"This development is a major step for healthcare in Bradford. The new building has created much needed capacity to help us ease the pressure on inpatient services."

"The modular approach significantly reduced construction time, bringing benefit to thousands of patients who are waiting for surgery, whilst also minimising disruption to patient care during the building process. Yorkon has a wealth of experience in the healthcare sector and their design for this scheme has provided us with a highly flexible and quality patient facility to help us meet the Government's tough waiting list targets."

Beverley Routh, Project Director for the scheme, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:

"Our decision to use off-site construction was based on the benefits of this more innovative building method – the standardisation of components, guaranteed quality, price certainty and speed of construction. Speed was a key factor – it was vital to deliver this project as fast as possible to enable the Trust to meet its service commitments."

"I am pleased to report that the modules were manufactured and delivered to programme. The scheme has met our expectations in full in terms of accommodation, the quality of internal finishes, the external appearance and functionality of the building. Despite the confines of a very tight site, the design has met the Trust's functional and aesthetic requirements with a remarkable degree of flexibility. It is proving to be a splendid new facility for the Trust."

Karen Francis
Matron, Orthopaedic Unit:

"It was with amazement that staff and members of the public watched a building of this size and complexity materialise in such a short space of time. This has been one of the most exciting service developments in the history of the hospital. Staff and patients alike are extremely impressed with the whole facility."

"The new building has given us much needed increase in capacity, allowing us as a Trust to reduce the pressure on inpatient services, whilst at the same time providing a quality service to the patients needing it. For staff working in the facility, the light and airy atmosphere complements the spaciousness of the wards and adds to the enjoyment of experiencing the positive impact on patients' lives that the development is now having."