Northumberland firm appointed to work on multi-million-pound medical project

Merit, an industrialised construction and digital manufacturing specialist based in Northumberland, has been appointed by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C) to design and deliver its new 48 bed therapy-led unit on the Norwich Community Hospital site in Norfolk.

The therapy-led unit, named Willow Therapy Unit following a vote by NCH&C staff, patients, families, and local residents, will improve the transition of patients from hospital care to the community, helping to ease pressure on local acute hospitals.

The multi-million-pound project is the ‘first of its kind’, using Merit’s new V6 UltraPOD SFS Variant, an extension to the “already effective” UltraPOD, which has been successfully deployed to other healthcare, biotech and pharmaceutical facilities across the UK.

Once complete, the ‘state-of-the-art’ 2,000 sq m facility will include a combination of single bed and four-bedded bays, as well as treatment areas, an assessment kitchen and self-service café area where patients can make drinks for themselves and their families, staff amenities and a reception area.

Using advanced 4D BIM modelling technology and an ‘innovative’ product-based approach ensures Merit’s expert team can deliver the new unit by June 2024, guaranteeing a faster, more cost-effective project schedule with sustainability in mind.

Tony Wells, CEO at Merit, commented: “We’re delighted to be working collaboratively with Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust to deliver this new facility, which will bring improved healthcare services to the local community.

“Merit’s new V6 UltraPOD SFS variant is ideal for this project, bringing enormous advantages in terms of speed, quality, a sustainable centric design, enhanced infection control and affordability.

“At Merit, we’re continually looking for new ways in which to innovate and optimise our product offering, so that we can provide the go-to choice for swift and efficient project delivery.

“The traditional construction business model struggles with quality, affordability and accessibility, we believe our new UltraPOD® SFS variant will solve a range of customer problems, whilst simultaneously increasing overall UK healthcare building capability through our automated industry 4.0 factory solution to provide healthcare facilities of the future.”

Matthew Winn, NCH&C CEO, added: “We are extremely pleased to be working with Merit on this important project for the Norfolk and Waveney health and care system. Therapy-led care provided at the Willow Therapy Unit will help bridge the gap between hospital and home and allow local residents to seamlessly move from hospital back into their communities.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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