Construction of new ED and UTC facility at Ipswich Hospital progressing well - Barnes Construction

Work on constructing a new dedicated Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and Emergency Department (ED) at Ipswich hospital is progressing well.

Barnes Construction started work last year on this key contract, which form’s part of the hospital’s £52M investment programme, Big Builds. And for the first time, representatives from the construction team, together with staff and clinical team members at the hospital, all gathered together on-site, to take a tour and see how the new facilities are taking shape.

When completed next year, the new two-storey UTC will offer treatment for a range of urgent but not life-threatening conditions, freeing up the ED to focus on providing care for the most critically ill and seriously injured patients.

Hospital specialists will work alongside primary care clinicians in one area, which will have a single front door for all walk-in urgent and emergency patients, making sure they are seen and treated by the right team.

As part of an additional £3.2million investment in diagnostic technology, the build will also include a new CT scanner, which will work alongside the new MRI scanner now in place in the Diagnostic Imaging department at the hospital.

Paul Fenton is Director of Estates and Facilities at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, the organisation which runs Ipswich Hospital. He said:

“The construction of our new Emergency Department and Urgent Treatment Centre will create greater capacity and improve the experience of patients using our services. We would like to thank members of the public for their patience and understanding whilst we carry out these construction works to improve the hospital for the population we serve.”

As well as Barnes Construction, several local businesses are also working on the project including KLH Architects, Castons, Ceetech, JSH and Sweco UK.

Mark Hart, Joint MD of Barnes Construction said:

“We have worked in the health sector regionally since the early 80s, and as an Ipswich-based employer, we are delighted to once again be working with ESNEFT on a project in the heart of our hometown.”