As part of a Managed Equipment Service (MES) contract, and in collaboration with North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust (NCIC), Ergéa has supported the development of a new endoscopy unit at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.
The £15 million facility promises to bring substantial healthcare benefits to the people of Cumbria, streamlining access to diagnostic services, and significantly reducing waiting times.
By delivering this solution, Ergéa says it is helping the Trust address capacity challenges and upgrade its procedure rooms. The company said: “Our approach, designed to stay within budget, will also enable completion a year faster than via traditional construction methods – offering timely and efficient support to meet the Trust’s needs.”
Ergéa says it has helped ensure that the unit is ‘built to be future-proof’. It said: “The facility’s design includes provisions for flexible expansion as demand grows, enabling the hospital to maintain and scale its services as the population’s healthcare needs evolve. This foresight aligns with Ergéa’s commitment to creating durable, high-impact healthcare infrastructure that can serve communities for generations to come.”
Ergéa is working closely with bespoke modular building specialist, Actiform, to develop the unit ‘using modern, sustainable construction methods’. The two companies say the
benefits include:
- Faster access to endoscopy: more patients will receive their diagnostic procedure within six weeks of referral.
- Increased capacity: The additional rooms will enable up to 30 extra procedure lists per week.
- Upgrading of procedure rooms: enhancing patient experience for treatment and diagnosis to help reduce waiting list backlogs.
- Reduced travel for patients, who will no longer need to travel outside the region for diagnostic care.
- Prompt diagnoses, especially for conditions such as cancer, will improve health outcomes and reduce patient anxiety.
- JAG accreditation: The facility will meet the highest standards for GI endoscopy.
- ‘Cost-effective and sustainable solutions’: the Endoscopy Unit will ‘meet the highest environmental and healthcare standards’.
Daya Karat, consultant surgeon at NCIC, explains: “The new facility will have more clinic rooms that all meet modern standards that we are not able to meet in the current environment. Expanding our endoscopy service will help us make faster diagnoses and meet the rising demand for the service. It also brings the Unit in line with what we already have at the West Cumberland Hospital following the redevelopment in 2015.”
Craig Farrow, Commercial director at Ergéa, commented: “Ergéa’s collaboration with North Cumbria in building this new endoscopy unit underscores our commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality in underserved areas. We are pleased to bring our expertise in MES to this project, working alongside Actiform’s innovative construction capabilities, to create a meaningful and lasting impact for the residents of North Cumbria.”
