Medical Air Technology (MAT) is mid-way through a major turnkey project at Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare, entailing refurbishment of three ultra clean, and one conventional, operating theatre.
MAT won the project – which entails upgrading medical and electrical installations, installing new ultraclean ventilation (UCV) systems, and upgrading finishes, fixtures, and fittings – via competitive tender. Its scheme included significantly shorter theatre shutdown times, due partly to its thorough site knowledge – it has held the hospital theatre service and maintenance contract for six years, and its proposal to prefabricate sections of the plant room, reducing on-site installation time.
In two of the theatres, MAT’s ECO-flow UCV canopies will replace existing MAT canopies that have served the hospital well for many years. The theatre ‘clean corridor’ will also be refurbished. Only seven weeks have been allowed for the shutdown of each theatre, with a 28- week overall completion programme.
To enable access to the theatres without disrupting day-to-day activities, MAT has erected a temporary external staircase and electric materials hoist, ‘breaking in’ through the existing façade to the ‘dirty’ corridor behind the theatres; thus accessing the theatres ‘from outside rather than inside’. Airtight hygienic screening has been installed around each theatre while work is underway.
