Emergency Medicine Centre, Whipps Cross University Hospital London

"Our decision to use modular construction for this scheme was based on two important factors – speed and minimising disruption. We had an immediate need for the building in order to achieve Government targets – the modular approach helped us to cut the build time by half."

The Requirement 

Whipps Cross University Hospital had a need for a new Emergency Medicine Centre to extend the accident and emergency department. The project is a major driver in enabling the Trust to meet Government targets for reducing the time patients have to spend on trolleys to no more than four hours.

The Solution

The new single storey extension was designed by Yorkon in conjunction with lead architects Broadway Malyan Healthcare. It adjoins the existing A&E department and provides 30 new beds in a mix of 6-bed, 4-bed and single ensuite rooms. Facilities include blood, gas and ultrasound units, dirty and clean rooms, offices and shower room for disabled people.

The building was manufactured off-site at Yorkon's production centre in York and craned into position as 24 steel-framed modules over a four-day period. This reduced construction time by half and, importantly, allowed the A&E department to remain fully operational throughout, despite the building's location adjoining the major treatment area and between the pedestrian and ambulance blue light entrances.

The new facility provides access to medical assessment and the treatment of emergency problems, based on clinical need, for the first 24 hours of the patient's admission. Patients are then either discharged or admitted to a hospital ward.

Comments from the Client

Reg Hollis, Head of Building and Engineering Services, Whipps Cross University Hospital:

"Our decision to use modular construction for this scheme was based on two important factors – speed and minimising disruption. We had an immediate need for the building in order to achieve Government targets – the modular approach helped us to cut the build time by half."

"It was also essential for the A&E department to remain fully operational throughout the construction period, despite the building's location adjoining the major treatment area and between the pedestrian and ambulance blue light entrances. This helped us ensure we minimised any disruption to patient care."