Historically the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has had greater demand for ophthalmic surgeries that they had the capacity to meet.
Their eye unit is the busiest department at Musgrove Park Hospital, carrying out over 3,000 operations every year and providing nearly 50,000 outpatient appointments.
The Trust came to us with a requirement of creating additional operating theatre space, more recovery space and dedicated patient areas which help them feel comfortable when receiving care.
This development was to be a key part of ‘Musgrove 2030’ – an ambitious programme to transform the hospital’s facilities and help make sure patients are cared for in the right place to meet their health needs.
Patients needed to access the centre directly from the car park, without the need to pass through the main hospital, and the Trust were restricted on space between a multi-storey park park and the existing Eye Care Unit.
To maximise the space and provide all the accommodation needed, our design team developed a design consisting of multiple modules of varying sizes, making up a 484m2 total footprint.
A ceiling mounted microscope and laser equipment had to be factored into the design to create the specialist Ophthalmic Operating Theatre.
The theatre is supported by an integral scrub, lay-up prep, anaesthetic room, dirty utility, 15-patient day ward and multiple consultation rooms for to speak confidentially to, and examine, patients before their operation.
The suite was constructed off site as a modular build, with nearly 90% of the construction process taking place in our factory facility, and was lifted into place over a weekend with minimal disruption to the active hospital site.
The new state-of-the-art theatre suite is the first part in the development of a new eye care unit at the hospital, with a fifth theatre expected to be in operation at the suite in early autumn.
It means consultant eye surgeons at the hospital will be able to care for significantly more patients every year.
The Trust hope that the additional capacity and forming of a dedicated Ophthalmology Centre will help reduce waiting times for routine treatment for the people of Somerset and also marks a very important step in the Trust’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The suite was constructed off site as a modular build, with nearly 90% of the construction process taking place in our factory facility, and was lifted into place over a weekend with minimal disruption to the active hospital site.
The new state-of-the-art theatre suite is the first part in the development of a new eye care unit at the hospital, with a fifth theatre expected to be in operation at the suite in early autumn.
It means consultant eye surgeons at the hospital will be able to care for significantly more patients every year.
The Trust hope that the additional capacity and forming of a dedicated Ophthalmology Centre will help reduce waiting times for routine treatment for the people of Somerset and also marks a very important step in the Trust’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matthew Bryant, Chief Operating Officer at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s the first time there has been a permanent dedicated day surgery theatre for eye surgery in Taunton and we are pleased to be able to offer patients a more positive experience in a better environment.”
Ed Herbert, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said he was very pleased to open the new ophthalmic theatre suite. “We’re confident that in time our new theatre suite development will greatly increase the number of eye operations we are able to provide to people in Somerset.”
Jonathan Brindley, Sales and Marketing Director for ModuleCo and project sponsor, said: “All of us at ModuleCo take great pride in our continued partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and supporting them to deliver specialised care to their communities.
“The feedback from the surgical team when using the facility is excellent and I know they have been very keen to use the new theatre suite since we first started discussions last December. It is pleasing to see that we have been able to deliver upon what was originally promised in terms of timescales, quality and the permanent feel and performance of the final build.”