A Sneak preview of the new modular facility at Dorset County Hospital

Increasing demand for its services is notoriously one of the NHS’ biggest issues. In January 2023, high patient numbers were increasing ambulance and discharge backlogs for Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to the point that a solution was needed - urgently.
In February, the Trust made the decision to invest in a new building to upgrade facilities for staff, patients and visitors. The aim was to reduce patient stay periods with improved discharge efficiency and reduced pressures on emergency departments and services.
With the Trust contractually required to spend their government funding by the end of the financial year in March, Premier Modular was commissioned to deliver a high-performance, fast-tracked solution that could handle capacity issues now, and in future. The building was completed in July 2023 and was delivered within the Trust’s restricted budget.
Working in close collaboration with teams from the Trust, cost consultants and award-winning architectural firm, P+HS Architects, Premier Modular took extra care to ensure the £2.8 million project was designed and costed before the March deadline. This was made possible by accelerating the project through the first five stages RIBA’s Plan of Work within a week - a process that usually takes up to two months. This was followed by the development of a meticulous design management plan that was informed by the daily meetings Premier held with stakeholders.
In just seven weeks, a design that met the Trust’s needs was finalised, an accomplishment achieved through exceptional communication and collaboration between all parties involved.