During December 2012 MTX were awarded the contract to design and build a temporary 6-bed WardPod to extend the emergency department at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.
The MTX WardPod, designed in response to the rising demand in accommodation requirements, provides a rapid response solution to help NHS Trusts combat short and medium term requirements whilst a more permanent alternative can be found.
On receiving the order for the 6-bed ward MTX immediately set to work to prepare the site in readiness for the 3 pre-fabricated modules to arrive in early January 2013. As well as negotiating the inclement weather experienced during January, MTX also had to manage working around a 24hour operational A&E Department, posing one of the biggest challenges for the team, especially when coordinating the ‘break through’ from the WardPod area to the main building.
As part of the building installation MTX also installed a new ramp system to help provide the Hospital with the ability to more effectively decant patients between adjacent fire zones.
The temporary building pod, positioned directly adjacent to the existing hospital on an unused piece of land, links directly in to the Accident & Emergency Department providing a seamless transition for patients and staff from the main building in to the temporary ward space. The WardPod has been finished to a high specification internally and matches the existing A&E department’s colour scheme. Externally, due to the temporary nature of the building, the WardPod has been finished with a basic plastersol finish but remains in keeping with the surrounding buildings.
Remarkably the new building that will be in place for the next 12months was installed in just eight weeks and handed over on Friday 15th February providing the Trust with immediate relief from the pressures on the A&E Department until a more permanent solution can be found.
Talking of the recent installation Stockport NHS Trust’s Estates Director, Paul Holt said “We have successfully worked with MTX on several capital projects over a number of years and found them to offer an excellent service. On this occasion we set an almost impossible challenge of delivering, a fully equipped modular 6 bed medical unit adjacent to our Emergency department within 3 1/2 months. Not only did they deliver, we opened 3 days earlier than planned. Given that we built this unit in the worst possible months in terms of cold weather including two occasions when we had 100mm of snow, MTX provided significant professional advice through their turnkey solution, putting together the right project team that created an attractive warm modern clinical environment. The positive impact was immediate in supporting the ongoing and exceptional clinical service we offer the residents of Stockport”.
6 Bed WardPod layout
