Yorkon shortlisted for two major building awards

Portakabin subsidiary, Yorkon, and Interserve Project Services, have been shortlisted for two Building Better Healthcare Awards following the completion of a ProCure21 project at the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton.

The construction team for the new Emergency Assessment Unit has been shortlisted in the Best Healthcare Construction Product category and for the Best Ecological Product Award.

The annual Building Better Healthcare Awards reward excellence, innovation and professionalism in the healthcare built environment and look specifically at building design, the patient environment, people, products and estates and facilities management.

The award winners will be announced following selected site visits and a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style Product Pitching Day, at an awards ceremony in London in November.

David Johnson, Director and General Manager of Yorkon said, “Completing a building of this complexity and to the required quality standards, in the timescale, was the major challenge. This was also a very busy hospital site and minimising disruption to patient care for the duration of the contract was a critical issue.”

“We are delighted that the achievements of the Trust, Interserve and Yorkon – and the success of the off-site approach – have been recognised with these award nominations. And it is excellent that our efforts in developing a sustainable building system have been acknowledged with our inclusion in the award shortlist for the Best Ecological Product.”
Steven Taylor, Trust Project Manager for the EAU scheme, said, “The Trust’s brief to the project team was to provide a modern, welcoming healthcare environment with a strong emphasis on designs that promote the highest standards of cleanliness and control of infection. A key factor was also that the building would be robust enough to cope with the demands of a very busy Emergency Assessment Unit.”

“I am happy to say that the project team has met the Trust’s expectations. This building has certainly raised the bar in terms of quality of finish and compliance with NHS standards.”

Yorkon was awarded the £2.8m contract by Interserve Project Services for the off-site construction and fitting out of a new state-of-the-art 42-bed Emergency Assessment Unit required by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

The 1,710sqm single-storey extension building was completed just over six months after start on site and has successfully expanded the number of assessment beds on the Stockton site as part of the Government’s drive to reduce waiting times for emergency cases. Since its completion, the Trust has achieved the highest level of activity in the EAU of any ward accommodation in the hospital.

The scheme comprises 42 steel-framed modules, which were manufactured in York and installed on site in just a few days – minimising disruption to patient care and reducing the programme time for the new unit.

Designed around the needs of patients, healthcare professionals and support staff, following extensive consultation, the building provides a range of facilities for acute emergency surgical care, including:

• four-bed wards
• single en-suite bedrooms
• an isolation ward
• high dependency beds
• consulting rooms
• ward manager’s office
• waiting areas and quiet room
• staff changing facilities and rest room
• an interview room.

The unit has been equipped with the latest technology. Wireless workstations are available for use at patients’ bedsides and this is one of the first units in the country to have an electronic information board. It is treating around 30,000 patients each year.

www.yorkon.info



For further PRESS information, please contact:

Joanne Bridges, PRO – Yorkon
Tel: 01489 570898
Fax: 01489 570888
jbridges@bridgescommunications.co.uk


Editor’s Notes

1. The advantages of off-site construction for healthcare projects include:

- programme times reduced by up to 50 per cent, allowing earlier completion with a positive impact on patient care
- reduced disruption to patients, staff and the local community during construction
- fewer vehicle movements to site
- safer, quieter and cleaner
- improved quality and reduced future maintenance
- a high level of design flexibility internally and externally
- buildings can be expanded without decanting
- improved thermal efficiency for lower running costs and reduced carbon emissions
- helping to address the shortage of skilled labour affecting the construction industry
- cost control and reduced material wastage
- guaranteed delivery on time and on budget.

2. Off-site construction involves the manufacture of steel-framed modules in a controlled factory environment, using production line technology, whilst the foundation works are completed on site. The modules are delivered to site by road where they are craned into position in just a few days ready for fitting out.

3. If you wish to publish a telephone number for further information, the number for Yorkon is 01904 610990. Please do not print the agency’s number.