Productivity – A Key Issue For New Healthcare Building Programmes
There’s an increasing urgency behind healthcare construction projects. This is driven partly by a backlog of treatments caused by the pandemic, and partly by the determination to reform the way that many healthcare services are delivered.
The challenges are significant: contractors have to complete projects more quickly, without compromising quality or performance, in the face of an increasing shortage of skilled labour. Many schemes will also have to be delivered in live environments where surrounding facilities continue to deliver patient services.
If ever there was a case for innovation, this is it. Specifying anything other than a modular approach to construction would be a major risk in the current environment.
Adopting modern construction methods has the other big advantage of moving much of the activity offsite. When existing facilities are being extended, the reduced disruption of offsite methods is a significant benefit.
Choice and Complexity
Improved productivity is one of the main factors driving increased adoption of offsite construction for healthcare. But it isn’t the only one. Quality, building performance and energy efficiency are all in the mix. There are several choices of modular construction methods available. The ideal option will depend on the size of the project and the specific outcomes required.
Osborne has successfully deployed a variety of modular construction techniques on healthcare projects. This means that we understand the available options in depth as well as how project plans need to adapt to suit the technology.
In the case of the Watford Acute Admissions Unit the solution chosen featured 150 steel-framed modular units delivered to site complete with partitions, electrics, plumbing, sanitaryware and finishes already in place. This dramatically reduced the disruption to patients, clinical services, and the local community. Adopting this approach ensured the project was finished six months ahead of the original schedule.
Osborne has also delivered well over fifty schemes using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), which means we have a wealth of experience of different offsite methods that we can deploy to improve productivity and deliver schemes sooner.
Find out more by visiting our healthcare construction resource centre. Or contact Richard King ([email protected]).
