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John Radcliffe Hospital – 5 Storey Critical Care Building

By June 6, 2022November 16th, 2022Featured Projects, Healthcare, Project Portfolio
John Radcliffe Hosptal – Treatment Room

A 48-bed critical care building delivered to the prestigious John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, utilising Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).

The Requirements

To allow the hospital to manage demands throughout the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and forecast potential future seasonal and epidemic pressures, the Trust had a requirement to expand their current critical care capacity on a large scale.

One of the client’s main requirements was to have the facility completed in an efficient timescale with no impact on budget or quality. In order to achieve this, Modern Methods of Construction was selected as the principal and preferred delivery method and MTX were elected as the synergetic partner of choice.

The Solution

MTX provided Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with a 5,450m² new critical care building in exceptional timing. The new 5 storey facility, now called Oxford Critical Care (OCC), was part of a regional approach for managing critical care demand and activity throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to supporting and alleviating future seasonal and epidemic pressures for the Trust. Situated directly next to the hospital’s existing Trauma Department, the OCC connects directly into one of the main live corridors at ground floor level; proving a seamless flow between departments housing theatres and imaging and diagnostics facilities. This allows for a fast, efficient route for patients who may require subsequent further critical care. Through use of offsite construction, MTX were also able to minimise disruption to the Trauma Department and allow for uninterrupted staff and patient access.

The new OCC comprises 3no 16 bed wards across the ground floor, first floor and second floor and the dedicated plant room and non-clinical accommodation such as seminar rooms, offices and spacious staff rooms across the remaining 2 floors. The top floor dedicated staff area, boasts enviable 360-degree views of the Oxfordshire countryside, providing staff with a beautiful and calming environment to take training seminars.

Through use of MMC, MTX were able to quickly deliver this high-quality new hospital facility cost effectively. Over 5 days 148 modules were safely and efficiently craned into place by the experienced on-site team.

Through continuous and close communication with the client, the team were able to work meticulously to ensure successful delivery in the shortest possible programme, whilst still maintaining the highest standard MTX are renowned for. Consistent feedback and collaboration with the end users, gave precise compliment to the care and attention to detail given to all elements of this distinguished project.

John Radcliffe Hosptal – Treatment Room 2

Main Considerations

There were some quite significant logistical challenges in delivering the new building, including tight site constraints, maintaining access to the Trauma Building and main hospital, creating the foundations and installing the piling on a pronounced slope, and obtaining the Execution Grade 3 steelwork.

MTX also had to address the exacting ventilation requirements of a critical care building, divert the water and gas services, create the new sub-station and associated electrical infrastructure, and subsequently ensure vehicular access, including for cranes of different sizes.

We had tight project timescales to meet and the additional pandemic-related challenges, especially in obtaining some of the required building materials. In addition, during the petrol crisis, getting staff to site. We are pleased and proud that, through excellent collaboration and teamwork between the key project partners; the Trust’s clinical, estates, and projects personnel, our architects IBI Group, consulting engineers DSSR and Hoare Lee, civil engineers Rossi Long and structural engineers Alan Wood, the scheme progressed smoothly.

A combination of an extremely rapid design and planning process and strenuous on site 14-hour working days, saw it take just 15 months to get this prestigious project from initial design to successful handover. This critical care building with such complex services requirements, would have taken up to 3 years to complete, if traditional construction methods were used.

What They Said

“This is a fantastic new building which has been constructed to a limited budget. We have been able to incorporate advanced 21st century designs that, from experience, will enable the clinical team to provide efficient and excellent clinical care for patients while working in a modern, bright, natural daylit and person-centred environment. The design of the new critical care building has attracted considerable external interest, including from NHSE/NHSI and believe it will prove to be a landmark building.”

Lyn Bennett- Matron for Adult Critical Care and Clinical Lead Advisor Nurse for this new Critical Care Building, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.