After the success of an earlier project at the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Nuneaton, Medical Air Technology (MAT) has completed another major theatre refurbishment and upgrade on the site, further improving flexibility and patient flow. Of the hospital’s nine operating theatres, four now have an MAT ECO- flow™ ultraclean ventilation (UCV) canopy, allowing a full range of procedures to be carried out, including orthopaedic surgery. The work was completed in just two months, including stripout and commissioning of the final system, and theatre shutdown time was kept to an absolute minimum. Close collaboration between hospital staff and the team from MAT ensured there was no impact on patient care while the upgrade was underway.

Theatres 3 and 4 already had MAT laminar flow canopies, which had been performing very successfully since they were installed. However, technology has advanced and their replacement with MAT’s ECO-flow™ canopies was a major part of the refurbishment. The innovative and advanced ECO-flow™ is engineered to significantly reduce energy usage and cost, without any reduction in the level of performance. The system uses up to 60% less power than other similar canopies, even in full ultraclean mode. Energy efficiency is achieved through innovative internal design and the introduction of infinitely variable-speed DC motors, while highly efficient centrifugal fans reduce the energy drain required for cooling. The introduction of LED cruciform lighting also improves energy efficiency. The new user-friendly canopies offer larger clean zones and are exceptionally quiet, enhancing the operating experience for clinical staff.

This total turnkey project also included a major stripout and replacement of ductwork, new air handling units, operating lights, BMS control panels, medical gas pendants, touchscreen surgeon’s or theatre control panels, PACS viewers, and IPS and UPS electrical systems. Both anaesthetic rooms were also upgraded to improve the patient journey through the theatres. New vinyl flooring, ceilings, hygienic wall cladding and LED general lighting throughout completed the upgrade of this fully HBN and HTM-compliant theatre suite.