Merit

Merit, the UK’s leading industrialised construction and digital manufacturing specialist based in Northumberland, has been appointed by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C) to design and deliver its new 48 bed therapy-led unit on the Norwich Community Hospital site in Norfolk.

The therapy-led unit, named Willow Therapy Unit following a vote by NCH&C staff, patients, families, and local residents, will improve the transition of patients from hospital care to the community, helping to ease pressure on local acute hospitals.

The multimillion-pound project is the first of its kind, using Merit’s new V6 UltraPOD® SFS Variant, an extension to the already effective UltraPOD®, which has been successfully deployed to other healthcare, biotech and pharmaceutical facilities across the UK.

Once complete, the state-of-the-art 2000m2 facility, will include a combination of single bed and four-bedded bays, as well as treatment areas, an assessment kitchen and self-service café area where patients can make drinks for themselves and their families, staff amenities and a reception area. All of which will help enhance the transition of patients from hospital care to the community.

Using advanced 4D BIM modelling technology and an innovative product-based approach ensures Merit’s expert team can deliver the new unit by June 2024, guaranteeing a faster, more cost-effective project schedule with sustainability in mind.

To meet ever changing and increasing demands, the V6 UltraPOD® SFS Variant utilises Merit’s latest roll former, panel line production system to enhance affordability and accessibility through a significantly reduced programme. The V6 platform comes as standard, rated BREEAM Excellent as a minimum, EPC-A, and energy consumption is 69% lower than the current CIBSE hospital benchmarks.

Tony Wells, CEO at Merit, commented: “We’re delighted to be working collaboratively with Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust to deliver this new facility, which will bring improved healthcare services to the local community. Merit’s new V6 UltraPOD^® SFS variant is ideal for this project, bringing enormous advantages in terms of speed, quality, a sustainable centric design, enhanced infection control and affordability.

At Merit, we’re continually looking for new ways in which to innovate and optimise our product offering, so that we can provide the go-to choice for swift and efficient project delivery. The traditional construction business model struggles with quality, affordability and accessibility, we believe our new UltraPOD^® SFS variant will solve a range of customer problems, whilst simultaneously increasing overall UK healthcare building capability through our automated industry 4.0 factory solution to provide healthcare facilities of the future.”

Matthew Winn, NCH&C CEO, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with Merit on this important project for the Norfolk and Waveney health and care system. Therapy-led care provided at the Willow Therapy Unit will help bridge the gap between hospital and home and allow local residents to seamlessly move from hospital back into their communities.”

Merit’s experience delivering similar projects for the health and care sector will be invaluable as we look to construct these beds quickly and help to relieve pressure on our local acute hospitals.”

Merit prides itself on its ability to design and deliver high-quality, technically complex facilities for the healthcare sector, with notable project wins including Berwick’s long-awaited new, 10,500m2 £35m community Hospital, Solihull Hospital’s new Elective Hub (Operating Theatre Block) and a new build sterilisation services and decontamination supercentre for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

ENDS

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Josh Mason 01325 363 436
About Merit

Merit is the UK’s first industrialised construction and digital manufacturing specialist and prides itself on its ability to design and engineer-controlled environment solutions for the healthcare, bioscience, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, aviation and nuclear sectors, specialising in the delivery of complex cleanroom construction and M&E services that require stringent regulatory approvals.

Merit has developed a range of market specific proprietary ‘DFM&A Platform designs’ through 4D BIM and vertically integrated digitally manufacturing to deliver construction through an entirely new ‘clean sheet of paper’ approach focused on productivity, sustainability, and successful repeatable project outcomes. Merit believes its FLEXI POD® and UltraPOD®+ products are the first truly disruptive I4.0 industrialised construction platforms to be demonstrated in operation.

Headquartered in Northumberland, it employs over 300 people in the UK and owns further facilities in London and Scotland. For further information visit www.merit.co.uk

About Merit Health
Merit Health is the dedicated healthcare and life sciences division of industrialised construction and manufacturing specialist, Merit. It delivers high-quality hospitals, laboratories and manufacturing facilities, faster than ever before, with lower build and maintenance costs. Merit Health’s buildings address the need for improved infection control, adaptability and sustainability by healthcare and life sciences market players, such as hospitals, laboratories, vaccine and advance therapy manufacturers.