The contract to build a £49 million state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging centre at Frimley Park Hospital has been awarded to Modern Methods of Construction specialist MTX.
MTX is progressing groundworks on site while at the same time modular sections of the building are under construction within a factory production environment, using MMC principles to complete the new facility faster, safer, greener and more cost effectively.
The three-storey building includes a dedicated breast care diagnostic and outpatient unit providing a ‘one stop’ service for patients, and an imaging centre delivering increased capacity and capability with advanced diagnostic imaging equipment including three CT scanners, two MRI scanners and two gamma cameras.
A total of 74 inpatient beds will be provided across two storeys with a combination of single rooms and four-bed bays. It will be linked to the main hospital building making access and delivery of services easier and more efficient.
Utilising MMC principles will enable MTX to deliver the fully compliant facilities within a build schedule reduced by up to 50% compared with the conventional building methods. The MMC process will also aim to reduce waste by up to 60% using off-site manufacturing techniques.
David Hartley, Managing Director at MTX, explains: “The contract at Frimley Park is another important milestone in our continuing collaboration with health trusts across the UK on the creation of new facilities designed to reduce waiting lists and improve patient care.”
The MTX team’s careful management of the project combined with MMC principles will limit disruption and speed up delivery, minimising the impact on patient care at Frimley Park Hospital during the construction period.
Neil Dardis, Chief Executive Officer of the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT), said: “This is a significant investment that will help us to continue delivering high standards of care for our patients as we wait for our New Frimley Park Hospital. As part of that project we will be looking at how we can continue to use this new building, along with other suitable areas of our current hospital site, as part of our healthcare facilities in the future with the development of the new hospital.”
The additional beds will help the hospital reduce elective waiting lists, allow it to better cope with COVID and seasonal pressures, and enable ward refurbishments and remedial work for areas affected by RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete).
