Mixed-modality endoscopy solution installed at Airedale Hospital

The Trust serves a population of 200,000 in Yorkshire and Lancashire and Vanguard Healthcare Solutions has designed and built a bespoke mixed modality endoscopy solution including modular and mobile elements which includes a fully equipped modular dual-procedure room and a five-bed ward.

The suite will be sited at Airedale Hospital in West Yorkshire for an initial six months while work is undertaken on the hospital’s existing endoscopy facilities. It will operate five days a week.

The solution also includes waiting and reception areas, consultation rooms, toilet facilities and a staff welfare space as well as utility and plant spaces – all within the combined modular and mobile building.

Admission and discharge will be in the facility, and patients will not have to visit the main hospital building when attending for their procedure. This enhances both infection control procedures and convenience for patients.

The mobile element of the solution is one of the latest to be built by Vanguard and is the first to be designed and built to stand at 18m in length. The modular element is made up of 11 modules and, all told, the build took five weeks from delivery of the modules to testing and becoming operational. The Trust will staff the unit and Vanguard will provide a unit facilitator.

Simon Conroy, National Endoscopy and Sterile Sales Manager at Vanguard, said: “This Healthcare Space which we have created with the Trust includes our latest mobile endoscopy facility which is newly built and fresh off of our production line – and the first to be engineered at the new 18m length. It’s a very exciting project and the Trust have been highly engaged throughout the process – every department has done everything they possibly can to help the process run smoothly.

“We’re delighted to be working with them and to help them maintain capacity for these essential procedures while their own facilities are out of commission for a short period of time while they undergo repair.”