Yorkon News Archives
28/01/2005 – New Independent Sector Treatment Centre Arrives on Site in Somerset
Modular building specialist, Yorkon, has completed manufacture of the UK's first independent treatment centre to be built off-site. The new 4,100 sqm hospital was craned into position at Shepton Mallet in Somerset in only 13 days, ready for fitting out and just over 13 weeks after the £9m design and build contract was awarded to Yorkon.
The Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre is part of a major Government initiative to increase capacity in the NHS, improve patient choice and speed up access to surgery. When complete, the centre will carry out more than 11,000 operations per year.
The hospital is being developed by an international consortium, which includes the New York Presbyterian Healthcare System, OR International – a US-based developer of speciality surgical hospitals, and project managers, Atkins. The project is sponsored by four Somerset Primary Care Trusts and North Dorset Primary Care Trust.
Built adjacent to an existing cottage hospital in Shepton Mallet, the treatment centre will accommodate four operating theatres for orthopaedic, ophthalmology, and general surgery, an on-site sterile services department, radiology, an endoscopy suite, physiotherapy gym, and 34 in-patient beds.
Jonathan Weiner, Chairman of Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre, said, "The finished building will represent both high quality and value for money. The use of off-site construction is delivering the building in less time than conventional construction, which means we can begin treating patients sooner. Disruption to local residents has also been less because much of the construction work has taken place off-site in York."
He added, "The cranage operation went very smoothly and we are impressed with just how efficient this system is."
Robin Smith, Chief Executive at Mendip Primary Care Trust, said, "The treatment centre will be working to the very highest standards, aiming to deliver a quality of care that will be at least as good as the best currently provided by the NHS. The initiative will give the NHS important extra capacity to perform routine operations and will significantly reduce waiting times."
The two-storey building was manufactured off-site at the 60-acre production centre in York and craned into position as steel-framed modules up to 14m long ready for fitting out and completion of the external envelope. It will feature roof glazing above the waiting area, western red cedar cladding panels between windows and timber brise soleil to offer shading from the sun. Yorkon are also responsible for demolition works, landscaping and fitting out.
Notes
1. Facilities at the Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre will include:
- 34 in-patient beds – 11 2-bed rooms and 4 3-bed rooms
- 4 operating theatres with on-site sterile services department
- endoscopy suite with procedure room and scope cleaning room
- 18 day beds for pre-operative, primary and secondary recovery care
- 8 consulting rooms for out-patients
- imaging department with a fixed MRI scanner, x-ray, ultrasound and a digital picture acquisition and communications system
- physiotherapy gym and treatment room
- stat lab, blood bank and pharmacy
- teleconferencing and training facilities
- café and central waiting area in the atrium.
2. Yorkon's award-winning modular building system is an efficient alternative to traditional site-based construction, which saves time, guarantees quality and minimises disruption to existing operations and the local community.
3. Modular building involves the manufacture of steel-framed modules in a factory environment, using production line technology, whilst the foundation works are completed on site. The modules are delivered to site by road where they are craned into position in just a few days.
4. Yorkon has been honoured with the award for Off-site Manufacturing Specialist of the Year at the Specialist Contractor Awards for the second consecutive year. The awards are organised in association with the Department of Trade and Industry.
5. Yorkon is a subsidiary of Portakabin.
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