Press Release: ModuleCo Delivers Groundbreaking Community Diagnostic Centre for Barking Community Hospital

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ModuleCo has successfully delivered a turnkey modular Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) for Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust at Barking Community Hospital. This state-of-the-art facility is one of the first of the forty new community diagnostic facilities promised by the government to enhance NHS services.

The new modular CDC is poised to perform 50,000 scans and tests annually, significantly expediting the diagnosis and treatment of patients in the local community. Among its many innovations, the facility introduces minimally invasive procedures using a cytosponge to detect cancer or pre-cancerous conditions of the stomach and gullet, and colon capsules that contain a small disposable camera to capture thousands of images as it travels through the gut, aiding in symptom identification.

Manufactured to almost 90% completion off-site at ModuleCo’s specialist manufacturing centre in Gloucestershire, the facility was simultaneously built while enabling works were conducted on-site. This approach not only reduced the overall project timeline but also minimised disruption to the small hospital site and the surrounding community.

ModuleCo’s design team engaged extensively with future end users of the facility, ensuring that the provided accommodation, equipment, and finish met the precise needs of both patients and staff. The ground floor features specialist CT and MRI scanning rooms with a central control room, seven diagnostic/assessment rooms tailored to various specialties from cardiology to phlebotomy, and a spacious open plan waiting area with an integrated reception desk.

The facility also includes essential support spaces such as clean and dirty utilities, a changing places room, a platform lift, and two stair cores to enhance access. The first floor is dedicated to staff facilities, including changing areas, showers, and rest spaces, with a future-proofed design for potential retrofit to accommodate more diagnostic/assessment areas.

Aiming for a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, the project incorporates low carbon technologies such as air source heat pumps and PV panels, which occupy the available roof space. The enhanced performance of the building’s thermal envelope also aligns with the new Part L building regulations, ensuring efficient heating and cooling.

ModuleCo also managed the challenging enabling works, coordinating with UKPN, Essex and Suffolk Water, and Transport for London. This included the installation of a new HV power supply, housed within a newly-built substation, and the provision of new water and fibre supplies, making the new facility standalone from the rest of the hospital site. A standby generator ensures resilience in case of a mains power outage.

Upon visiting the finished building, the Trust’s patient advisory group praised it as “1st class!”, “Fantastic. So bright and airy,” and “A great example for others to follow.” At the facility’s opening, Professor Sir Mike Richards, pioneer of CDCs, remarked, “It is a fantastic centre, it feels spacious and it’s really going to help us get the time to diagnosis reduced, back to where it should be.”

Trust Chief Executive, Matthew Trainer, added, “The centre will have a huge impact on residents across north east London in the heart of Barking. For those worrying they might have cancer, it means we can give them the news they need quicker, either the all clear so they can get on with their lives, or, if they are diagnosed, we can give them the treatment they need.”

Councillor Maureen Worby, an early supporter of the CDC, commented, “I can’t explain how much of a difference this is going to make for our local residents. The commitment from the very beginning to have patients involved in the design is wonderful. It means patients feel relaxed, comfortable and that they are going to be put first.”

About Barking Community Hospital
Barking Community Hospital, part of the Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, serves the local community with a wide range of healthcare services. The hospital is dedicated to providing high-quality care and improving patient outcomes through innovative medical practices and facilities.

About ModuleCo
ModuleCo is a premier provider of modular construction solutions, specialising in the healthcare sector. With a focus on innovative design and efficient delivery, ModuleCo offers bespoke modular buildings that meet the highest standards of quality and sustainability. Their off-site manufacturing approach minimises disruption and accelerates project timelines, making them a leader in the modular healthcare construction industry.

For more information, contact us here.