Offsite construction specialist, Merit, has been appointed by the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to design and build its new Hybrid Theatre and MRI Facility. This innovative project is set to transform patient care and accessibility to provide advanced healthcare services in the region, with completion expected in November 2025.
This pioneering facility will feature a two-storey design that houses a cutting-edge hybrid theatre, an MRI suite, and essential supporting services, along with office spaces. Merit’s innovative offsite construction methods will significantly reduce the project timeline, enabling the Trust to open its doors to patients much more swiftly than traditional building approaches would allow.
Starting in February, works will commence at Merit’s Cramlington-based smart factory to manufacture the facility’s offsite components. By leveraging advanced offsite manufacturing capabilities, Merit's team will conduct simultaneous offsite and onsite operations, resulting in a streamlined and efficient construction process. This will not only expedite the project but also minimise disruption to the local community, allowing for a smoother transition and continued access to healthcare services at York Hospital.
The facility has been developed in close collaboration with clinical teams and end-users, with a focus on optimising workflow efficiency, patient care, and staff functionality. By providing state-of-the-art technology and an improved environment for care, this facility will meet the growing healthcare needs of York and Scarborough, bringing advanced medical services closer to home for the local population.
Furthermore, the facility design adheres to HTM and HBN regulations, ensuring compliance with healthcare standards, and features a future-proof design that will enable adaptability and expansion.
Merit’s will utilise its FLEXI POD® approach to deliver the new facility, which merges traditional building techniques for a facility’s shell and core, with an offsite manufactured fit-out facilitated through a PODs and Pre-Assembled Modules (PAMs) strategy,
Placing sustainability and innovation at the heart of its offering, Merit’s team have designed a low-carbon, all electric and energy efficient facility that will be Zero Scope 1 Carbon in operation enabled and will comfortably achieve EPC-A rating. Merit’s commitment to sustainability will also contribute to the NHS’s goal of reducing carbon emissions and promoting a greener future within healthcare.
Tony Wells, CEO at Merit, commented: “We are thrilled to have been appointed for this groundbreaking healthcare facility project. Our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional results that will enhance both patient care and staff experience. Through our advanced offsite approach, we aim to set a new benchmark for healthcare construction that cannot be matched elsewhere, ensuring a high-quality environment for all.”
Liz Hill, Associate Chief Operating Officer for Surgery, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust added: “This is an exciting development for the Trust, and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Merit to help deliver excellent diagnostic and vascular care for our patients.
“The new facilities will be a real asset to us, creating a modern, spacious, innovative MRI suite with state-of-the-art technology and a cutting-edge vascular hybrid theatre. This will enable more patients to be seen and provide enhanced patient care, as well as offer a much-improved work environment for our staff.”
The project builds on Merit’s reputation as a trusted partner in healthcare construction, following recent projects including Berwick’s new Hospital, Bedford Hospital’s new Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Unit and a Community Diagnostic Hub (CDH) on site at Woking Community Hospital. Merit also recently completed Solihull Hospital’s new Elective Hub (Operating Theatre Block), to improve elective procedures at Solihull.
