18-paikkainen modulaarinen osasto vastaa Kettering General Hospitalin tarpeisiin monipuoliselle ja korkealaatuiselle kliiniselle tilalle

Modular healthcare facilities are possibly best known for the speed at which they can be delivered and made operational, and for their significantly lower cost to build than traditional construction methods.  

Another huge benefit is the flexibility a modular healthcare space can offer. Rob Drabble, Director of Estates and Facilities at Kettering General Hospital spoke about how the hospital has used, and values, the Vanguard Healthcare Solutions ward. 

“The building was originally commissioned to provide additional ward capacity but when COVID-19 hit during its construction in 2020, once completed, it was used as a vitally important ‘green’ space, given its location, separate to the main hospital building. 

“We originally commissioned the building – called the Sir Thomas Moore building - on a rental basis, but it has been such a success and we have been able to use the space so flexibly, that we have now bought it from Vanguard and it will be a permanent fixture and much valued part of our estate. One of its greatest strengths for us as a hospital is its versatility.  

“We have used it to variously decant departments and wards of the hospital as we responded to RAAC, it has been used as a patient discharge lounge and for maternity. Most recently, when we experienced an issue in the maternity department and needed a fast solution as to where we could move the patients, the Vanguard modular building was the natural choice. 

“It’s a really high-quality environment, suitable for a whole range of patients from expectant and new mothers through to those waiting to be discharged following treatment. It solves problems for us and is factored into our emergency planning and continuity plans – this is a space which can be used for many different functions safely and effectively. 

“It really has been such a brilliant solution for us, and I know it will continue to be in the years to come.” 

The building is 600sqm and provides nine twin rooms, each with en-suite facilities. There are also utility rooms, storage space and a nurse station area on the ward. The internal configuration was designed with efficient patient flow in mind, maximising the use of available space and ensuring the practical - and safe - transfer of patients arriving from the main hospital building.

In 2020, the facility was installed in the carpark at the hospital’s main site. The modules had been built off-site and lifted into position by crane. Vanguard’s project team worked in close collaboration with the Trust on all aspects of the commissioning, deployment and delivery. Both staff and patients praised the spacious, clean and bright, new ward space.