Healthcare engineering and construction specialist, MIG Medical, has launched what it says is the UK’s first healthcare design and innovation hub – its Healthcare Innovation Centre – at its Union House building in Altrincham.
A joint initiative with Dräger, which supplies many of its pendants and lighting, it features a fully equipped operating theatre, intensive care unit, and clinical washroom area. It has been created to offer a hands-on experience of advanced healthcare design and technology, and access to clinical areas – albeit simulated – that would be difficult to gain entry to in a live hospital. MIG Medical says that in addition to enabling ‘unique training’ opportuni1es for medical staff, the space offers NHS teams, architects, designers, and contractors the chance to develop a deeper understanding of clinical equipment and layouts as part of the design, procurement, and construction of medical facili1es.
Products featured include technology and equipment from, from Barco, Arthrex, Aspire Inside, Saturn Visual, Altro, SDS, Norwood, and Mann + Hummel.
MIG Medical said: “As well as offering a unique space for debate and discussion, the Healthcare Innovation Centre also enables visitors to explore a wide range of external and internal design features from companies across the MIG Group. This includes a clinical washroom supplied by Concept Cubicle Systems and installed by the Washroom Fit Out Company, external brick slips supplied and installed by MIG Facades, internal design materials from Woodio UK, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment from MIG Mechanical.
Carl Mitten, director of MIG Medical, said: “The Healthcare Innova1on Centre is a living, breathing space that will continuously evolve to reflect the latest changes in practice, technology, and construction techniques. The operating theatre and ICU are installed to the same standard as the UK‘s most modern hospitals. When provided with access to medical gases, they could – in theory – be used to conduct medical procedures.
“We believe the centre will become a hub for collaboration within the healthcare design and construction community. It’s a place where architects, contractors, and engineers can work with NHS surgeons, Estates teams. and senior leaders to explore the very best prac1ce in the industry.”
Melanie Jacobsen Cox, head of healthcare at HLM Architects, said: “No number of drawings or 3D visuals can replace the benefit that is offered by standing within a physical space when engaging with clinical stakeholders. Access to ICU and theatre spaces within existing estates, is very limited and what happens within these areas is complex and procedural. Being able to stand in the physical space, with interactive human movement, brings healthcare processes to life, shining a light on where there are pinch points which can then be alleviated, to provide a design that serves the needs of the service being provided.”
Alison Ryan, deputy Healthcare lead at Mott MacDonald, and IHEEM’s current President, said: “I was impressed with the centre’s emphasis on sustainability, the integration of design thinking principles for human-centred innovation, and the general welcoming of ideas for future improvement. Through exposure to the latest technological advancements for prototyping, demonstrating and testing, the new hub provides an environment where designers, engineers, clinicians, and service-users can highlight issues that not all parties will be aware of, thereby encouraging betterment and innovation.”
Victoria Roberts, Sales director for Dräger UK, said: “We’re very proud to be a leading partner in this venture. The centre is a fantastic environment to learn and experience the many solutions that can be offered to enhance an acute care area.
“It allows everyone to visualise the proposed infrastructure design, to enable discussion about clinical workflow and design to improve patient outcomes. Getting it right at the design stage is critical to a successful installation, and negates costly adjustments later in the project. We already have plans to add an Emergency Department care area this summer, and a Neonatal Intensive Care area in the autumn.”
