Yorkon News Archives

04/07/2002 – Carmarthenshire NHS Trust pioneers use of off-site construction for challenging theatre scheme

A challenging and complex project has been completed by modular building specialist and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, to build a new three-storey theatre and endoscopy unit at West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen.
Because the new facility was to be located in a totally enclosed courtyard, this pioneering project involved the cranage of the building as 38 modules over a fully operational accident and emergency department, in a highly sensitive manoeuvre.

The innovative modular building method significantly reduced time on site, ensured noise levels were minimised and, importantly, no disruption to the provision of patient services. The purpose-designed building will free up much needed space within the hospital and provide a highly flexible healthcare facility to meet future local needs.

Commenting on the success of the scheme, Robert Elliott, Head of Estates at the Carmarthenshire NHS Trust, said, "The use of off-site construction allowed us to develop a fully enclosed site within the hospital complex and thereby expand our theatre facilities. No other building method could have achieved this without causing major problems to service provision."

"The implication of any construction work on the running of a hospital is a key issue. What had the potential to be a very difficult and disruptive period was completed on time, with no inconvenience at all to our patients and to the highest standards. This achievement was made possible by both the Yorkon team and the Trust's estates department who were responsible for project managing the operation. Both staff and patients are delighted with the new facilities."

On the ground floor, the new endoscopy unit has two fully equipped procedure rooms, a treatment room, two-stage recovery facility and a patient and relative waiting area. The upper floors accommodate a day hospital and a general theatre.