Modular Hospital Wards To Help Ease NHS Winter Pressures

The NHS is set to benefit from a £250 million funding boost as part of the urgent emergency care recovery plan, the government has announced. This is intended to increase capacity at a time when the NHS is facing huge challenges as we go into the winter months.

900 new hospital beds will be delivered in time for winter as part of the drive to treat patients more quickly. Some of the beds will be provided by converting underutilised non-clinical spaces into wards. Other areas will benefit from the creation of ‘modular wards.’ These are hospital facilities created from premium modular buildings.

This enables hospitals to quickly create extra first-class clinical space within very short time frames. Modular buildings are largely prefabricated off-site, and can be assembled at the desired location within a matter of weeks or even days. This is far more cost-effective and time efficient than the traditional bricks and mortar approach to construction.

In the NHS where both funds and time are both critical issues, this makes modular buildings an ideal solution. The cost-savings can then be invested into other crucial areas such as recruitment, training, medicines and equipment.

At the Northwick Park Hospital in London, a 32 bed modular acute ward will be created in time for winter. Modular buildings are highly adaptable and can be customised to suit a variety of needs, including accident and emergency wards, acute assessment units, isolation wards, surgical wards, single sex wards, and more.

These spaces can be fitted with the most advanced medical equipment, as well as the necessities you would expect such as bathrooms, kitchens, offices, storage space, and any other bespoke facilities. Furthermore, they can be installed as single or double storey and easily adjoined with corridors and stairways.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “Cutting waiting lists is one of my top 5 priorities, so this year the government has started planning for winter earlier than ever before and the public can be reassured we are backing the NHS with the resources it needs.”

He added: “These 900 new beds will mean more people can be treated quickly, speeding up flow through hospitals and reducing frustratingly long waits for treatment.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said: “We know that winter is a difficult time so we’re working to get ahead of pressures while also creating a sustainable NHS fit for the future. That’s why we’re investing this £250 million to support NHS capacity and deliver 900 new beds, as part of our drive to put in place 5,000 permanent additional beds.”

He added: “Creating additional hospital capacity will support staff to provide the best possible care and treat patients more quickly, helping us to improve waiting times and cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top 5 priorities.”

Modular hospital wards can be installed on site with minimal disruption to patients, staff, and the emergency services.