Grand Opening of St Austell Elective Surgical Hub Marks a Milestone in Cornwall’s Healthcare

The highly anticipated St Austell Elective Surgical Hub has officially opened its doors, marking a significant step forward in providing accessible, high-quality healthcare for residents across Cornwall. Delivered by ModuleCo in collaboration with the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, this state-of-the-art modular healthcare facility at St Austell Community Hospital will support the delivery of approximately 5,000 elective day surgery procedures annually.

The new hub enhances the hospital’s capabilities, which have traditionally centred on outpatient clinics, minor injury care, diagnostics, and rehabilitation. Now, with two advanced operating theatre suites, dedicated recovery wards, and preoperative assessment rooms, the hospital is set to play a vital role in alleviating pressure on larger acute hospitals in the region, such as Royal Cornwall Hospital and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Cutting-Edge Design and Rapid Delivery

The surgical hub was procured through the NHS Shared Business Services Modular Buildings Framework, with ModuleCo providing a complete design and build solution. Using an off-site construction approach, the facility was constructed to 90% completion in a controlled environment, reducing risks and ensuring consistent quality. This method enabled the project to be completed in just 28 weeks from assembly to handover, with foundation and enabling works carried out simultaneously to streamline the timeline further.

Designed to be self-sufficient, the hub features resilient air source heat pumps for heating and hot water, as well as 100m² of photovoltaic panels integrated into the existing site system, ensuring sustainability. Only power and mains cold water were required as incoming services, highlighting the efficiency of the design.

A Collaborative Effort to Transform Patient Care

The grand opening event brought together key stakeholders and healthcare leaders, celebrating the hub’s potential to make a real difference in the lives of local patients. The importance of the project was further underscored by regional media coverage, including ITV News and the BBC, which highlighted the hub’s contribution to reducing surgical waiting times and improving access to care across Cornwall.

Steve Williamson, Chief Executive of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, expressed the importance of the new facility:

“Having two extra operating theatres increases our overall capacity. That is really important as we look to reduce the waiting times for surgeries. That is happening right across the NHS, so we are absolutely thrilled that we are starting work on a new elective operating centre here at St Austell.”

Debbie Richards, Chief Executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, highlighted the hub’s impact on accessibility:

“This is a really important milestone of our partnership with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, but also the work that is being enabled by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.

It means that local people will be able to access some of their surgical procedures in the St Austell community. These are day case procedures, but it does mean that people will be able to come here and access care in a more convenient way.

It is also going to provide some additional capacity that means as a system, we will be able to bring down waiting lists across the county.”

Jonathan Brindley, ModuleCo’s Sales Director, spoke about his experience leading the project:

“There is certainly a buzz surrounding the facility’s significant impact on reducing waiting lists. With the investment in their local hospital, it has been extremely well received by the local community. Patients from St Austell and the wider Cornwall area are now able to avoid lengthy trips to the main acute hospital sites for treatment.

Less than 12 months ago, the site was still just a grassy field. We started on site in February and handed over in August, taking just 28 weeks from the start of off-site construction to completion. This was incredibly powerful to demonstrate to today’s grand opening attendees.

I just want to thank everyone involved in the project, as it showcases the very best of what we can achieve and the relationships we aim to establish with all stakeholders involved in the projects we undertake.”

With its cutting-edge facilities and patient-centric design, the St Austell Elective Surgical Hub demonstrates how ModuleCo’s modular construction solutions can support the NHS in delivering much-needed healthcare infrastructure quickly and sustainably. 

Read more about the Trust’s perspective on the hub here.