MODULAR BUILD
associated with a more temporary solution, but this is far from the truth. As modular construction is utilised more in 2021, NHS Trusts will be able to better understand that this is a permanent solution to capacity – reputable modular building providers such as ModuleCo supply for life, not simply for the short term. When well executed, modular facilities are designed and specified to a precise specification and brief, in collaboration with each NHS Trust or other healthcare provider. Designs are produced following detailed feedback sessions, and each ModuleCo modular build is created to align with the needs of the Trust in question, and of its patients. Forward- thinking modular building providers have indeed evolved to become providers of state-of-the-art facilities, that are a far cry from the shabby, temporary solutions that pollute the modular construction landscape.
Quality buildings without compromise
There are many benefits to modular facilities, but one of the most important is their ability to be flexible and adaptable to an NHS Trust’s needs and increasing demands. The needs of the NHS are changing quickly and significantly, with Trusts having to adapt their ways of working, and reallocating budgets in line with changing demand. Modular buildings offer flexibility to help with this in both the long and short term. Once the immediate pressures of COVID-19 begin to subside, the demand for short-term facilities will also invariably slow, allowing Trusts more time to consider approaches that offer greater longevity. Modular construction methods have evolved rapidly in recent years, with quality providers offering permanent, robust structures of a scale to deal with the needs of the largest and busiest Trusts. Modern-day modular buildings are designed completely bespoke, to encompass and respond to the needs of the Trust in question, making them functional for the NHS professionals who will be using the space.
Those modular providers with internal design teams are able to work closely with an NHS Trust from the outset, covering every aspect of the project – from design concepts, planning applications, and enabling work design, to installation and manufacturing drawings. In 2021, NHS Trusts would be better served seeking out companies with in-house design teams so that the project is managed from start to finish, simplifying the entire process.
Finding the right provider There are many modular building providers in the market, yet in 2021, I anticipate that NHS Trusts will become more thorough in their screening of partners to be sure that their project can
58 Health Estate Journal April 2021
A modular operating theatre at Bedford Hospital.
be delivered both efficiently and effectively. NHS Trusts will need the reassurance from providers that they will receive a state-of-the-art solution that can be delivered within a pre-determined timeframe. Providers need to be aware of the pressures placed on the public sector, and to be able to adapt and respond creatively to potential roadblocks in order to work towards a positive outcome. Approved suppliers who sit on NHS frameworks can handle the entire process, and have the knowledge and understanding to handle any potential issues. One recent project that we came up against entailed managing the logistics of installing a module on a busy NHS site. ModuleCo received a brief during last year for operating theatres that were required at fourth floor level so they could link onto
an existing theatre suite. With the requirements of the specialist equipment to be accommodated in the theatres, it was a challenging brief, yet with our experience we were in the position of being able to offer a bespoke design solution to provide exactly what was required. As the need for additional capacity rises, I believe projects will present greater complexities, and NHS Trusts should look to seek out partnerships with companies offering quality modular facilities that can be delivered in a proven, hassle-free way.
Changing perceptions of modular buildings
The modular construction industry continues to be plagued by misconceptions about the quality of
A modular theatre in phase one of work at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham.
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