Tony Wells, Chief Executive Officer of Merit, a specialist in offsite manufacture and build of ‘hi-tech’ facilities for healthcare, laboratory, cleanroom, manufacturing, and other industrial environments, discusses some of the key time, other practical, and cost-saving benefits of this approach, drawing on some of the company’s recent projects in healthcare
The UK government a number of times last year reiterated its commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030, for example with a dedicated mention in the 2022 Queen’s Speech in May. While there has been some criticism over the pace, there are clear signs that progress is being made. This confirmation of commitment comes at a time of unprecedented backlog on NHS waiting lists, estimated to require up to seven years to be cleared, and patients experiencing more than 10-hour waiting times in A&E departments, partly due to the lack of space to admit them. More adequate facilities are urgently needed, and offsite modular is ideally positioned to play a major role.
Building projects in the healthcare sector are generally highly complex, requiring specialised technical knowledge and high standards to meet the unique needs. To add to this, the Government has indicated a preference for the latest construction methods, while leveraging digital technologies and meeting stringent sustainability considerations. Modular construction approaches are now wellestablished, but the breadth of offerings available masks the opportunities offered by those employing the most advanced methodologies. What can now be achieved is much further-reaching than generally recognised.
Multi-fold advantages
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