PROPERTY STRATEGY
NHSPS is currently delivering a complete rebuild of a health centre in Chiswick, where it has a nearby vacant building it can repurpose as a decant for services.
to. This helped to ensure that we could give people more confidence around configuration, adaptability, site requirements, cost, and lead times. Due to a large uptake in estate conversions of unused spaces, there hasn’t yet been large-scale uptake of modular structures. However, we see this as a solution going forward as we enter a ‘new normal’.”
JB: “Following on from the last question, what type of healthcare facilities have had to be constructed in modular form during the COVID-19 outbreak?” AP: “Within our guidance we have included several examples of the types of facilities or structures available – from temporary GP surgeries, to standard wards, to shower blocks or changing facilities.
As we have all seen, Trusts and other NHS organisations have been converting previously unused space into COVID-19 wards or testing facilities. As we begin stepping down from this, modular buildings are a viable solution to ensuring that both capacity, and social distancing guidelines, are met.
Separating different patient types “One of the ways we see modular buildings being most useful is in terms of separation of different types of patients within hospitals; for example, COVID-19- specific ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ areas that will allow the separation of patients requiring treatment for COVID-19 vs those not presenting
symptoms and requiring other medical care. We also need to consider that when business goes back to ‘normal’, the NHS will have many procedures returning, such as elective surgery, and treatments requiring overnight hospital stays. This is where we see modular construction becoming an important option for additional space. “We will also continue to require space to test potential COVID-19 cases, and ensure
A new integrated care centre adjacent to the existing Devizes Treatment Centre will accommodate the services currently provided at Devizes Community Hospital, plus significantly increased primary care capacity, out-of-hospital urgent care services, enhanced extended hours services provision, and an expanded range of other healthcare services.
that contamination does not spread throughout healthcare facilities. Examples of temporary facilities could include sanitisation stations outside hospitals for visitor use prior to entering, or screening stations for patients before they go into the hospital. These additional COVID-19 facilities will hopefully not be required long-term, which makes modular buildings a perfect temporary solution as we work towards identifying the long- term impacts on facilities from this pandemic.”
JB: “How much of a role do you see for modular buildings in the future in ensuring that the NHSPS estate is properly provisioned, and for what type of healthcare facilities do you anticipate them being most widely deployed?” AP: “Firstly, it’s important to differentiate between temporary modular buildings and permanent buildings delivered through modern methods of construction, including offsite manufacture. There are discussions within our organisation around modern methods of construction, whereby specialist buildings or office- style structures are
prefabricated offsite and then assembled on location. These are not the same as
The NHS Property Services Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Town Planning Update document.
30 Health Estate Journal September 2020
temporary modular buildings, which are flexible structures assembled on site and intended to be occupied for a short period (1-2 years). The relaxation in town planning requirements, alongside the extension of permitted development rights, means modular buildings also do not always require the typical planning approvals and process. In light of this,
modular buildings are important – particularly during this time – to build short-term addition to capacity or to separate services within the community. “Often in constrained sites, we need to move existing clinical operations into temporary buildings to allow the redevelopment of main facilities. What this means is that, as well as for short- term capacity support, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, modular buildings can also be used in place of a main building while the site is being redeveloped.
An onsite ‘decant’
“A great example of where modular building can be applied beyond COVID-19 would be for an on-site decant during a big build or redevelopment project. We are currently delivering a complete rebuild of a health centre in Chiswick, where fortunately we have a nearby vacant building we can repurpose as a decant for services. However, for other future projects we could explore the potential of transferring services into a modular building on the site itself while we redevelop the main building, negating the need to find and repurpose any nearby accommodation, and reducing upheaval for patients and staff.
“We also need to consider that, despite these being temporary structures, lead times can vary. When people think of modular buildings, they assume they can be supplied in a week or two, which simply isn’t the case. Although much quicker than traditional building works, in reality they can take 12-16 weeks to develop, plan, and build.
“We are already actively thinking about and speaking to our customers about these solutions to ensure adequate turnaround time for their needs. We are
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