Work has just been completed on two building projects at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham which will relieve pressure on crowded clinical space, providing increased capacity for treating patients and improving patient care.

Masefields Architects & Surveyors based in Kings Heath, Birmingham, was responsible for design and contract management for both projects which were operated with a single contractor.

The hospital's physiotherapy department had recently been moved out of a temporary building into a first floor ward. Although it was an improved facility, it soon became apparent that there was insufficient space for the increasing patient numbers. Masefields, in conjunction with the hospital's estates department, devised a scheme that turned areas of unused balconies on the front and rear elevations of the ward building into practical and functional ward areas. This allowed the replacement and upgrading of external windows, improving both sound and thermal insulation for the benefit of patients.


The second project, which was run in tandem with the changes to the physiotherapy department, was the creation of a new external store for the theatre department.

The new building was to be located adjacent to the existing theatre department where its construction could cause great disruption with noise, dust and vehicular traffic affecting both the operating theatres and main site road. It was decided to construct the new building using off-site-fabricated panels which were then erected on site, causing minimal disruption.

The additional benefit of this new storage facility was the freeing up of much needed space within the operating theatres themselves that had previously been used for storage.

Masefields produced concept plans, obtained planning and building regulation approvals, developed technical drawings and specifications and then supervised a tender process to select a contractor. Once work commenced, Masefields monitored the works to ensure that the projects were completed on time and on budget to the high standards of quality needed for this internationally renowned hospital.

Jim Pendrey of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "Masefields worked with commendable speed to complete delivery of these projects with little more than six months from start to finish."

The hospital – in Birmingham's Northfield district - is also one of only a handful of centres specialising in the treatment of bone and soft tissue cancers.

Masefields' managing director Stephen Marchant said: "This prestigious healthcare facility is a long-standing client. We were delighted to assist in providing these additional facilities which will allow it to expand its vital work for the people of Birmingham and the rest of the UK."

(GK/JM)