Modern Methods of Construction specialist, MTX, says the new £12.5 m endoscopy unit built by it for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust (QEH) ‘is being recognised as an outstanding example of combining offsite design and advanced construction techniques with collaborative working’.
MTX explained: “The project employed multi-level BIM tools and Construction Playbook methodologies to deliver a high-quality facility to time and budget, achieving 72% pre-manufactured value, 49% increased patient throughput, and an excellent satisfaction score from the QEH. Offsite technology was a major element in delivering the building, which opened in September 2022 – ‘delivering cost predictability, economy, accuracy, speed of installation, and reduced energy consumption and building running costs.”
MTX says the unit’s construction also harnessed ‘ground-breaking’ carbon and energy efficiency reduction plans, with the collaborative early contractor involvement (ECI) relationship and use of digital technology and simulations seeing savings for the whole life of the facility.
The new endoscopy unit uses digital design innovation and technology to improve the patient care and experience. Bespoke interactive endoscopy information screens, smart touchscreens in nurse bay areas, smart room sensors capturing information such as light and temperature levels that impact patient experience, and a ‘live rooms’ signage and booking system are among the innovations.
The Trust identified the need for a new two-storey, 2,600 m2 development to modernise obsolete facilities and enable endoscope procedures to take place in one facility to meet acute clinical demand. On behalf of QEH, exi Group contracted MTX to develop the new endoscopy unit using a BIM and ECI approach through the NHS SBS Modular Building Framework quality selection.
MTX said: “The project delivered achieved an accelerated return on investment by 14 months, 41% less CO2 than a traditional construction solution, an MMC platform approach that achieved 72% PMV, a 26% reduction in carbon emissions for the concrete floors compared with previous installations at the Trust, zero defects, and zero accidents. Units digitally designed and optimised in the factory reduced risk, while delivering advanced pre-assembled factory standards and high quality assurance levels. Cost predictability was a key factor in pre-construction, with Revit modelling allowing accurate RIBA stage 4 costing, and clash detection design workshops reducing on-site conflict.”
Initiatives to increase speed of delivery included weekend working, extended factory hours that saw 10 modules per day manufactured during winter, use of recycled Legato blocks to accelerate groundworks and save carbon, and direct radio communication between the construction team and the hospital’s A&E Department that optimised crane usage to mitigate delays without disrupting blue-light movements.
