INFRASTRUCTURE AND RAAC MANAGEMENT
sought to provide modern clinical accommodation that complies with current Health Building Notes (HBNs), Health Technical Memoranda (HTMs), and Building Regulations. The existing Ward 6 facility was not suitable for the long-term care of patients requiring specialist ventilation support. The VIC comprised an open-plan eight-bed bay with four individual bedrooms. While many patients remain in the VIC for several months, some require care for over a year. Given these extended lengths of stay, the existing accommodation did not provide the level of comfort, privacy, and dignity necessary to support patient wellbeing and recovery. A key objective of the project was therefore to
enhance the patient experience by providing only single- occupancy bedrooms, thereby improving privacy, comfort, and dignity. To further support patient independence and wellbeing, each bedroom was provided with its own en suite facility which was built as a wet room for the comfort of patients. The VIC delivers two levels of care for vulnerable
patients: n Acute patients, who require non-invasive ventilation
following respiratory infections such as influenza, COVID-19, or other respiratory illnesses.
n Weaning support patients, who require specialist support while being weaned from mechanical ventilation.
Weaning from mechanical ventilation is the gradual reduction of ventilator support as a patient’s respiratory function improves and they become increasingly able to breathe independently. Throughout this process, healthcare professionals closely monitor the patient’s breathing, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and overall clinical condition to ensure they can safely maintain adequate respiratory function without ventilatory assistance. In addition to improving privacy and patient experience,
the project focused on enhancing clinical functionality and service delivery. To achieve this, the ward was reconfigured to separate the two patient services, creating a dedicated acute care area comprising of eight single bedrooms and a dedicated weaning unit comprising of four single bedrooms. Each bedroom has been designed to accommodate
high-grade medical trunking with medical gases and single and double arm pendants. Furthermore, Ward 6 was equipped with two bariatric
bedrooms and seven ceiling-mounted hoist tracking systems. These facilities enable staff to provide safe, effective, and dignified care for patients with complex mobility requirements and support the needs of some of the Centre’s most vulnerable patients. “The unit is all single rooms with en suite facilities and will allow us to receive patients rapidly from the emergency department, freeing up resus,” explains Dr Robert M. Angus – consultant respiratory physician and medical lead for ventilation at Aintree University Hospital. “In the old facility we could not do this until swabs were clear; this contributed to flow challenges. This is a good investment by the Trust of NHS funds and will see improved patient care. “The technical side of the build is impressive. The air
handling and temperature control systems are state of the art and deliver a facility which will be pleasant for patients and allow the management of infection control issues effectively. When we face another pandemic, we will be much better equipped to handle it. The systems employed use some of the best technology available and helps the hospital achieve the priorities of a green NHS.”
October 2026 Health Estate Journal 71
Working closely with the design team, we reimagined and redesigned the existing ward layout. Despite retaining the same overall floor area, the new design significantly improves the sense of space, creating a more open, functional, and patient-centred environment that feels considerably larger and less constrained than the previous arrangement.
Location Ward 6 is located in one of the busiest areas of the hospital, situated adjacent to the main entrance and surrounded by several critical departments, including the Accident & Emergency Department (A&E), Outpatients Department, Radiology, and the Critical Care Unit. In addition, the works were carried out close to the
hospital helipad, requiring close coordination with the security team. Construction activities were temporarily paused whenever a helicopter was arriving or departing to ensure the safety of patients, staff, contractors, and flight operations. The project’s location adjacent to high-acuity clinical areas presented significant challenges, requiring works
A view of external construction works at Aintree Hospital, including temporary roof tent, plantroom steel structure, and Tilbury Douglas site compound.
Aintree Hospital – existing and eradicated RAAC locations Aug 2026.
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