sponsored by HEALTH SECTOR NEWS Stockport Trust opens new £24.3 m outpatient unit
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has opened a new £24.3 m Outpatients Department at Stepping Hill Hospital, delivered in partnership with Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) specialist MTX Contracts Ltd. The hospital, which is one of four specialist hubs for emergency and high-risk general surgery in Greater Manchester, will use the new facility to modernise outpatient services and provide improved care for the 500,000 patients who attend each year. The new building unifies outpatient
services back and offers multiple consulting rooms, procedure and treatment rooms, as well as waiting areas and ancillary facilities. Services to be delivered from the
centre include orthoptics, optometry, dentistry, cardiology, neurology, oncology, pain management, podiatry
and rheumatology. A total of 72 structural steel modules
were manufactured offsite lifted by crane into position in late 2024, creating the shell of the new unit. Once assembled, the structure was made weatherproof and concrete floors installed. Mechanical and electrical elements, including air-handling units, were also prefabricated in factory conditions before being fitted onsite.
Dartford Trust rolls out digital test ordering system
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust have implemented Clinisys ICE to support electronic ordering of radiology and pathology tests, replacing paper and legacy systems. The system went live in June and is now used by around 2,000 staff across wards, maternity and paediatrics, emergency and same day emergency care, and outpatients. The deployment forms part
of the Trust’s wider digital plans, within the Kent and Medway Pathology Network, covering seven laboratories across four NHS trusts. It is preparing to procure a new
electronic patient record (EPR), while its laboratories will implement the Clinisys WinPath laboratory information management system (LIMS) next year. Once the LIMS is operational, ICE will also deliver results electronically, reducing turnaround times and supporting
clinical decision-making. Guy Sisson, Consultant
Gastroenterologist, Chief Clinical Information Officer and Senior Responsible Officer for the project, said: “This has been a long-running project that has really picked up speed over the past year. Once we decided on a big-bang go-live, our project team, our IT team, Clinisys, and our PAS supplier all worked together to make it work. It was almost like a hackathon, with everybody in a room making it happen. Since then, the feedback has been how intuitive the system is. It has been received very, very well.”
Mo Khan, Programme director of Digital at Dartford and Gravesham, said: “We will have access to the results of tests ordered by GPs, and they will have access to the results of tests ordered in hospital. That should mean fewer repeat tests will be needed, and clinicians will have more information on which to make decisions about their patients.” Louise Dewing, Programme manager at Clinisys, added: “The roll-out of Clinisys ICE at Dartford and Gravesham shows and how modern pathology systems can act as the foundation for further digital developments.”
MTX said the use of MMC
shortened the construction programme by enabling site clearance, groundworks and module manufacturing to take place simultaneously. The site presented a number of challenges, including the removal of asbestos-containing structures, an abandoned underground plantroom and the diversion of live utilities.
The company added that its hybrid construction techniques can reduce carbon emissions by up to 45% compared with traditional methods, while the use of lighter weight materials and reduced transport requirements supported the Trust’s Joint Green Plan with Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. Karen James OBE, Chief Executive officer of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is excellent to see this fantastic new building open, and that our outpatients service will be available under the same roof once more, in a greatly improved environment.” Paul Williams, Project director at MTX, added: “Our vision was to create a modern, welcoming and efficient space that would improve the experience for patients and staff alike – and I believe collectively we’ve achieved exactly that.”
Retail space renovated into eye care clinic
Medical Architecture transformed a former retail space into SEON Vision’s ophthalmic clinic. The premises for the private clinic was a vacated ground-floor retail unit in a largely residential area of Kingston upon Thames, London. Significant reconfiguration of the internal layout was required to create an optimised environment for the delivery of ophthalmic care, including cataract and minor ophthalmic surgeries. The clinic’s key spaces include
three consultation rooms, a laser room, a diagnostic room, an operating theatre, and a post- surgery recovery space. To ensure efficient use of the existing space, the accommodation was split into zones and arranged to optimise patient and staff flows. The entrance and waiting zone have been designed to support comfort and wellbeing. The design boasts a bespoke reception desk with an organic sculptural form and feature lighting. Full height timber screens divide the waiting space, providing a choice of more open and private areas. Achieving the technical
requirements of an ophthalmic clinic in a former retail space
required detailed planning. Careful coordination mitigated the constraints of the existing structure, including the restrictive location of structural beams, to ensure ceiling heights were optimised for the functionality of key clinical spaces. Due to limited space, a
ceiling-void-mounted mechanical ventilation heat recovery system was incorporated to achieve the recommended air change rates. The designers said that, given the
particular needs of the patient group, attention was paid to accessibility for those with a visual impairment. Hun Pu, Project architect at
Medical Architecture, said: “It has been a hugely rewarding journey working closely with the client to realise their vision for world-class eye care on the high street.” The project was completed in
January 2025. October 2025 Health Estate Journal 15
Richard Chivers
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