East Cheshire NHS Trust is an integrated community and acute trust serving a large population across the region. It operates two hospitals with inpatient services, the main one being Macclesfield District General Hospital. The trust wanted to increase the range and complexity of surgeries it is able to offer by upgrading

two existing theatres and adding ultraclean ventilation (UCV) canopies, making them suitable for orthopedic procedures. Specialist contractor Medical Air Technology (MAT) had worked at the hospital before, so when the project was put out to tender was able to deliver knowledge of the site as well as competitive pricing in its winning submission.

MAT’s ECO-flow™ UCV canopy was to be at the centre of each newly fitted-out theatre, providing the latest UCV technology coupled with outstanding energy efficiency. Work started with the stripping out of the existing theatre ceiling, light fittings, operating lights and theatre control panels. The medical gas pipework was cut back to allow the new UCV canopies to be installed and existing ductwork modified and extended. Medical IT systems (IPS) units, which protect patients from the risks associated with electrical leakage currents and ensure continuity of supply, were also fitted, with their circuits interleaved in accordance with the

latest HTM. New theatre control panels and state-of-the-art LED Q-Flow operating lights, designed to decrease airflow circulation in the operating area and thus reduce the potential for contamination, completed the upgraded theatres. All services were commissioned by MAT’s sister company, MAT FM, prior to handover.

The trust wanted to minimise disruption to its day to day running by phasing the works to allow adjacent theatres to remain in use throughout. To make this possible, the existing ventilation system required modifications, necessitating extensive survey works and the capping-off of ductwork on the Saturday, and subsequent rebalancing on the Sunday, to enable the verification process to be undertaken efficiently. This occurred twice throughout the project, its successful execution calling for close communication and liaison between MAT, the estates team and theatre staff. MAT offers a wide range of services so is able to respond flexibly and quickly to the specific needs of each client, providing all the benefits that come from working with a specialist contractor. With its own in-house UK manufacturing facility and dedicated team of highly skilled engineers, MAT manufactures and supplies bespoke equipment for demanding clinical arenas. Clients can choose from several options, ranging from UCV canopy only right through to a total turnkey package, ensuring they get exactly the solution they need. In addition, MAT FM can provide a range of competitively priced and highly effective service and maintenance packages for all core products and turnkey solutions offered by MAT or other suppliers, ensuring that equipment is maintained, serviced and validated correctly for optimum performance.

For more information, please email: sales@medicalairtechnology.com or call 0844 8712100

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Stephen Taylor

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