Medical Air Technology (MAT) is the main contractor on Wansbeck Hospital’s current refurbishment project, which sees the turnkey upgrade of six operating theatres including recovery, clean corridor and adjacent auxiliary areas. The theatres have been reconfigured for better workflow, with new ventilation to HTM 03-01, medical gases, electrical installation, doors, furniture, sanitaryware and finishes. They will all be equipped with MAT’s flagship product, the ECO-flow™ ultraclean ventilation (UCV) system, and a range of surgical equipment from Bender UK including operating lights and theatre control panels.

Operated by the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Wansbeck Hospital is a centre of excellence for planned and ongoing care. It performs almost 7,000 operations every year, around half of which are orthopaedic operations such as hip and knee replacements. The refurbishment will provide the hospital with more ultraclean operating theatres, enabling a wider range of surgery and improving patient flow and other efficiencies.

Despite the pressures of working under the restraints of the coronavirus pandemic, the project got off to a flying start. The phased delivery programme is scheduled for completion in spring 2022, with Theatres 5 and 6 leading the way with expected handover in May 2021. The £5.5 million new facilities will further improve patient care and experience at this already outstanding hospital.