Yorkon News Archives

02/05/2004 – Yorkon completes UK's largest hospital scheme built off-site

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Off-site construction specialist and Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, has completed a £9m contract to design and build a new three-storey healthcare facility for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – one of the UK's top performing groups of hospitals.

The project, which will enable up to 10,000 additional inpatients to be cared for each year, is believed to be the UK's largest single hospital scheme to be built using modular construction.

The 4,950sqm facility started treating patients just nine months after start on site. It accommodates three new state-of-the-art 28-bed wards and six clean air operating theatres, with a striking full height glazed link to the main hospital and three ambulance bays.

The building was manufactured off-site in York and craned into position as 123 steel-framed modules up to 14m in length and weighing up to eight tonnes. It is clad in traditional York stone to complement the surrounding local architecture.

Commenting on this ambitious project, Beverley Routh, Project Director for the scheme at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said "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, a Matron in the Orthopaedic Unit added, "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."

Keith Blanshard, Director and General Manager of Yorkon, said, "We are delighted to have been involved in this important project. We are experiencing a huge increase in demand for off-site construction from both public and private health service providers, and expect this to continue to rise. Speed of construction is a necessity for healthcare schemes, where it is essential to bring the building into use as quickly as possible to help reduce waiting times."

Editor's Notes

Yorkons 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.
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 ready for completion and handover.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the country's top-performing groups of hospitals. It has been awarded three stars - the highest standard - in the last two annual NHS performance ratings, one of only 17 Trusts nationwide to achieve this. Every year, its two hospitals, Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital, treat more than 100,000 inpatients; 300,000 outpatients; 100,000 casualties through A&E; and deliver more than 4,000 babies. The Trust has an annual income of more than £150m and employs more than 4,000 staff. The Trust was formally awarded teaching hospital status in spring 2003, after its role in the training of medical students was expanded.