A new state-of-the-art operating theatre for Newark Hospital

Laminar Flow Theatre

Newark Hospital, managed by the Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, embarked on an ambitious project to install a new state-of-the-art operating theatre, which will support the existing Trauma and Orthopaedic surgical services at the hospital. This initiative was driven by the need to enhance patient care, reduce waiting times, and address the increasing demand for surgeries.

This is a really exciting time for Newark Hospital, our patients, and colleagues. This project is just the latest aspect of our plans to make the best use of the potential of the Hospital.

David Ainsworth

Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Sherwood Forest Hospitals

Due to the continuous population growth in Newark, the scheme will allow people to visit their local hospital for treatment and procedures reducing travel distance and time. This in turn contributes to the reduction of carbon footprint (approx. 12kg of emissions per patient) where people are having to travel to Kings Mill Hospital and provides services locally addressing health inequalities for patients who would have previously had to travel.

The new Laminar Flow Theatre employs cutting-edge Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), with off-site assembly ensuring a more sustainable installation process. This approach allowed for parts of the theatre to be lifted into place by crane over a single weekend, showcasing the efficiency and reduced live site time associated with modular construction.

The project, valued at £5.6 million, is anticipated to facilitate an additional 2,600 operations and procedures annually at Newark Hospital. The new suite comprises a recovery area, anaesthetic room, scrub facilities and dirty utility rooms, strategically located adjacent to the existing two theatres.

A further project to will also provide extra storage space, as well as improved changing and rest facilities for staff. The theatre unit is physically connected to the existing main hospital via a newly constructed link corridor to ensure continuity of service delivery and staff workflow.

Designing a space that improved patient flow was paramount. A well-thought-out design ensured that patients move seamlessly from one point of care to another, enhancing their overall experience and the efficiency of medical staff.

Our team worked alongside multiple stakeholders to find a location close to the existing services, ensuring workflows were maintained. Due to the high number of stakeholders and end users within the project, consultation and engagement was a priority throughout. Pick Everard arranged fortnightly meetings and workshops to ensure the end results would be compliant with the health building notes (HBN) and Health Technical Memoranda (HTM) criteria, with all design proposals scrutinised by the client’s technical advisers.