With medicine and healthcare always evolving, it’s important to have adaptable facilities that can keep up with the advancements. As hospitals, medical centres, and other facilities expand quickly, traditional building methods aren’t always practical.
This is where modular construction can come in. Cost-effective and quicker to build, modular medical buildings can offer a reliable, flexible solution. But what types of modular healthcare buildings are available, and what other benefits can they bring?
Let’s explore how modular (or prefab) medical buildings can support healthcare staff and patients across the UK.
What are modular healthcare buildings?
You might know modular buildings as ‘prefabricated’ or ‘prefab’ structures because they are built off-site in a factory, and construction teams can then assemble the pieces on location. But what makes modular healthcare buildings unique? Structures designed
specifically for healthcare settings are carefully made to make sure they meet strict medical standards and include features like proper ventilation, sanitation, and accessibility.
Modular healthcare buildings are perfect for both permanent or temporary solutions, providing extra space for everything from wards and outpatient centres to pathology labs and operating theatres — we’ll explore this in more depth shortly.
What are the benefits of modular construction in hospital settings?
So, why should you consider prefab medical buildings for your healthcare facility? Here are a few top benefits.
Quick to build
Because the components are built off-site, assembly is much faster, and there’s less chance of construction delays due to poor weather. This means that modular buildings can be built up to 50% quicker than traditional structures. When you opt for a prefab building from Cotaplan, it can be ready for internal fit-out in as little as two days once the components are on-site.
Hygienic and compliant
Because the components that make up modular healthcare buildings are produced in factories, manufacturers can ensure strict quality control, making sure they meet strict medical guidelines for cleanliness, ventilation, and infection control.
Affordable
A faster build time means fewer workers on-site, leading to lower costs. What’s more, off-site construction means less material waste, which can also save money.
Sustainable
Reduced waste also contributes to a more eco-friendly build. Our modular healthcare buildings are designed with sustainability in mind and use energy-efficient, recycled materials wherever possible.
Flexible and adaptable
We can design modular healthcare buildings for a broad range of applications. You can also quickly expand, reconfigure, or relocate modular buildings to keep up with changing healthcare needs.
What types of modular healthcare buildings are available?
We can see that modular buildings offer flexibility, but what specific healthcare facilities can be constructed with modular components?
Mobile healthcare units
Mobile healthcare units are a great example of how versatile and portable modular buildings can be. Easy to transport and set up in different locations, they can provide space for temporary and emergency medical services. This makes them invaluable in disaster relief efforts, remote areas, and events that require immediate medical support.
We can make sure your mobile healthcare building is equipped with the space and layout you need to deliver high-quality care on the go.
Clinics and medical offices
Modular clinics and medical offices can provide a comprehensive range of services in a convenient and efficient manner.
Whether it’s a doctor’s surgery for GP appointments, a dental office, or a specialist centre, custom-built modular construction seamlessly integrates essential features like examination rooms, waiting areas, discharge lounges, and administrative spaces.
Need to grow or adapt? These buildings expand and evolve as required, making them the perfect solution for established providers and up-and-coming medical teams.
Diagnostic imaging centres
Diagnostic imaging centres are essential in many medical settings. From
X-ray and MRI machines to facilities for CT scans and ultrasounds, modular buildings offer a flexible solution with the option to place equipment with precision.
These buildings can also be designed to meet the strict requirements of medical imaging, including soundproofing, vibration control, and radiation protection.
Rehabilitation facilities
A bespoke modular healthcare building is perfect for rehabilitation facilities. They can be tailored to meet diverse needs, whether you require a gym and hydrotherapy pool, consultation rooms, or spaces for physical and occupational therapy.
If you need to expand your rehabilitation facility, you can do so easily by adding new modules.
Hospital wards
Modular hospital wards provide a fast, efficient solution for expanding patient care capacity. Designed to meet the highest medical standards, these wards can include features such as individual patient rooms, shared recovery areas, nurses’ stations, and sanitation facilities.
Whether you need to expand a specific department, such as maternity and neo-natal or provide more beds for general surgery patients, modular hospital buildings can provide a fast and effective solution to reduce pressure on both NHS and private wards.
Surgical suites
No matter the type of surgery, operating theatres and surgical suites are carefully controlled environments that require advanced equipment and HVAC systems to ensure high standards of cleanliness.
With a state-of-the-art modular operating theatre, you can get just that. These constructions are built off-site within strict infection control measures to make sure they meet rigorous healthcare standards.
Design considerations for modular healthcare buildings
Designing modular healthcare buildings involves balancing functionality, safety, and flexibility. At Cotaplan, we design and build modular constructions for a variety of healthcare settings.
With over 40 years of experience in the industry, we’ve found that the most important areas to consider when creating modular healthcare buildings include:
- Meeting strict healthcare standards by integrating HVAC systems and ensuring every part of the prefab building is sanitary and protected against infection.
- Creating accessible spaces for patients and staff and complying with disability regulations.
- Allowing for future expansions or reconfigurations to adapt to changing healthcare needs.
- Using sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems to enhance environmental performance and keep long-term costs down.
With these considerations in mind, we create bespoke designs tailored to your healthcare facility’s unique needs. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to learn more.
Success stories: See our modular healthcare projects in action
We’re proud to have supported healthcare settings in constructing efficient, cost-effective, and flexible modular buildings designed to the highest health and safety standards.
Take a look at some of our completed projects — from prefab wards at the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill to a modular doctor’s surgery at Norwich Community Hospital.
Why choose modular healthcare solutions from Cotaplan?
We recognise that modular buildings not only enable healthcare providers to offer cutting-edge services but also contribute to improved patient outcomes, leading to a more efficient healthcare system overall.
Our team of construction experts is here to support more medical settings in providing the best care possible. That’s why we’re proud to offer compliant, accredited services and construct modular healthcare buildings of the highest standards.
Based in Greater Manchester, we work with NHS and private healthcare settings across the UK. We offer free consultations and pride ourselves on quick installations that never compromise on quality.
To learn more and see how we can help your medical setting grow, please contact the Cotaplan team.
