The Operating Theatre Journal - Flipbook - Page 15
State-of-the-art Endoscopy Unit at King’s Lynn hospital combined
advanced offsite construction and collaborative working
The £12.5m endoscopy unit built by modern methods of construction
specialist MTX at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS
Foundation Trust (QEH) is being recognised as an outstanding example
of combining offsite design and advanced construction techniques with
collaborative working.
The project employed multi-level BIM tools and Construction Playbook
methodologies to deliver a high quality facility to time and budget,
achieving 72% pre-manufactured value, 49% increased patient
throughput and an excellent satisfaction score from the QEH.
Offsite technology was a major element in delivery of the 昀椀nal project
which opened in September 2022 – delivering cost-predictability,
economy, accuracy, speed of installation, and reduced energy
consumption and building running costs.
Construction of the new unit also incorporated ground-breaking carbon
and energy ef昀椀ciency reduction plans contributing to the Trust’s net
zero policy targets, with the collaborative early contractor involvement
(ECI) relationship and the use of digital technology and simulations
resulting in savings for the whole life of the facility.
The new endoscopy unit uses digital design innovation and technology
to improve the patient care and experience. Bespoke interactive
endoscopy information screens, smart touch screens in nurse bay areas,
smart room sensors capturing information such as light and temperature
levels that impact patient experience, and a ‘live rooms’ signage and
booking system are among the innovations.
The Trust identi昀椀ed the need for a new two-storey, 2,600sq. m.
development to modernise obsolete facilities and enable endoscope
procedures to take place in one facility to meet acute clinical demand.
On behalf of QEH, exi Group contracted MTX to develop the new
endoscopy unit using a BIM and ECI approach through the NHS SBS
Modular Building Framework quality selection - embedding the Trust’s
carbon-led net-zero goals. Initially MTX was appointed on a preconstruction service agreement to work closely with the Trust’s clinical
and technical teams to develop the design from conception.
The project delivered against its goals achieving an accelerated return
on investment by 14 months, 41% less CO2 compared to a traditional
construction solution, an MMC platform approach that achieved 72%
PMV, 26% reduction in carbon emissions for the concrete 昀氀oors when
compared to previous installations at the Trust, zero defects and zero
accidents.
Offsite technology was a major element in the delivery of the 昀椀nal
project – offering cost-predictability, economy, accuracy, speed of
installation, and reduced energy consumption and building running
costs.
Units digitally designed and optimised in the factory reduced risk
whilst delivering advanced pre-assembled factory standards and high
levels of quality assurance. Cost predictability was a key factor in
pre-construction with Revit modelling allowing accurate RIBA stage 4
costing, and clash detection design workshops reducing on-site con昀氀ict.
Cost saving achieved included a 15% MMC saving vs traditional building,
a 65% reduction in on-site labour and utilisation of local SME resources
for assembly and completion, under MTX management.
Initiatives to increase the speed of delivery included weekend working,
extended factory hours that achieved the manufacture of ten modules
per day during winter, the use of recycled Legato blocks to accelerate
groundworks and save carbon, and direct
radio communication between the construction team and the A&E Dept
that optimised crane usage to mitigate delays without disrupting bluelight movements.
QEH Trust Project Manager Tracey Scoot, from exi Group, explains: “This
was the Trust’s 昀椀rst true collaborative early contractor involvement
(ECI) project. The approach to offsite construction was followed on
this project due to extremely restricted timescales within both the
Trust and healthcare arena. Modular construction allowed for a higher
quality build due to the standardisation of offsite methods and provided
cost certainty through ef昀椀ciencies in both design, resource, and labour
required on site.
“The project showcases the bene昀椀ts that collaborating with specialist
supply chain can bring to such a scheme, using Modern Methods of
Construction in the offsite construction and modular delivery.”
www.mtxcontracts.co.uk
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Issue 397
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October
2023
15