Merit - Delivery of a sterilisation and decontamination supercentre in Cramlington

Rapid delivery of a high-quality and technically complex Centralised Sterilisation Service Department (CSSD) for Northumbria NHS.

In 2020, we proudly collaborated with Northumbria Healtchare NHS Foundation Trust to design and build a cutting-edge sterilisation and decontamination supercentre (CSSD) in Cramlington.

This state-of-the-art facility now has the extraordinary capacity to disinfect and sterilise over half a million pieces of medical equipment each year, supporting a wide range of hospital departments and GP practices. This new centre increases the Trust’s capacity by an incredible 200,000 pieces annually, ensuring patients receive the safest care possible.

We brought Northumbria Healthcare's vision to life by using our FLEXI POD® product, blending traditional construction techniques with Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). By combining a conventional shell and core with offsite-manufactured elements like PODs and Pre-Assembled Modules (PAMs), we ensured rapid project delivery without compromising on quality.

This new two-storey facility replaces and consolidates the outdated sterilisation departments at Wansbeck and North Tyneside Hospitals, representing a transformative leap forward in healthcare infrastructure and a commitment to providing safer, more efficient care for the community.

Client: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Location: Cramlington
Sector: Healthcare
Project: Centralised Sterilisation Service Department (CSSD)
Value: £8,000,000

Key Features

Construction of a £8m sterilisation and decontamination supercentre, including 59 Pre-Assembled Modules (PAMs) and 1 UltraPAM
Health Building Notes (HBN) and Health Technical Memoranda (HTM) compliant in line with the agreed client scope.
Integration of enhanced infection control measures within a sustainable-centric design
Facility catapults sterilisation capacity for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust by an unprecedented 200,000 pieces.

Challenges and Solutions

Rapid Delivery in tight timescales: Merit delivered a fixed-price design proposal within an astounding 17 days, in line with the Trusts programme.
Fixed cost delivery throughout the height of COVID-19: Despite the risks and challenges through COVID-19 restrictions, inflation and material shortages, our approach ensured the project was delivered within 11 months within a fixed price contract, highlighting our resilient and commitment.
Tailored Precision for Operational Excellence: we ensured the facility's layout met the sterilisation users operational practices, functional needs and quality standards. Compliance with HTM and Health Building Notes (HBN) standards was rigorously adhered to.
Embracing Sustainable Solutions to deliver a Zero Scope 1 Carbon enabled facility. Switching to electrical power for clean steam generation and HVAC systems, coupled with the elimination of natural gas, resulted in substantial capital cost savings of £200k.

Key Outcomes

Achieved 90% Pre-Manufacture Value through UltraPOD® solution: This indicates a high degree of offsite manufacturing, significantly reducing on site construction time and labour.
Delivered £8m facility to budget: the project was completed within the allocated budget, despite challenges such as post-COVID restrictions and material shortages
Fast-track 11 months project duration, completed in a third of the time compared to traditional methods of construction
Certified as Zero Scope 1 Carbon enabled: The facility meets high environmental standards in line with Merit’s low-carbon design philosophy

Damon Kent

Managing Director,
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

“
Merit demonstrated their extensive experience in this specialist area and proposed a zero carbon solution that meets all of our specific requirements while achieving added environmental benefits ”