Malvern Community Hospital

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Facts and figures

  • Client: Worcestershire Primary Care Trust
  • The hospital started operating in November 2010
  • Malvern's existing Community Hospital was built in 1911. It was initially a general hospital providing medical and surgical in?patient beds, with an operating theatre and a local casualty department. An extension in the 1960s allowed the consultant and physiotherapy outpatient services to expand

Interserve was awarded the contract to build the new Malvern Community Hospital, as the existing hospital was no longer fit for purpose and was hindering the process of development of new care pathways and treatment for the increasing proportion of elderly patients.

The new Malvern Hospital, completed in October 2010 on programme, provides local residents with up-to-date and modern facilities, capable of delivering 21st century healthcare in line with national and local priorities; flexibility to cope with demographic and demand changes; improved local access to consultation, diagnosis and treatment; reduced travelling time for a significant rural population; reduced pressure on acute hospital services.

The 24-bed hospital consists of minor injuries, x-ray, physiotherapy, out-patients, and a minor operating theatre.

Achievements

  • BREEAM excellent rating (design stage) has been achieved, realising further funding
  • Highly commended at the Building Better Healthcare Awards 2011 on the Best Project Team category
  • Highly commended at the 2011 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors West Midlands Construction Awards on the Community Benefit category
  • Silver winners of the International Green Apple Award 2011 for The Built Environment and Architectural Heritage
  • Winner of the Leicestershire and Ruthland Society of Architects (LRSA) Design Award 2011 Category 1
  • Reduction in costs due to minimised waste
  • Safeguards environment for future generations
  • Aids in achieving stringent NHS targets

Sustainability in practice

The hospital utilises renewable geothermal energy for heating, cooling and hot water, using ground source heat pumps to harness solar energy absorbed by the earth. It also generates low carbon electricity using highly efficient combined heat and power (CHP) that will meet a significant proportion of the building's needs.

By generating its own green power, the hospital is projected to save £8,700 per year on its energy bills, and reduce its carbon emissions by 15 tonnes per annum, equating to the environmental benefit of 1,500 trees.

Sustainability in construction and life cycle running covers many aspects that extend to the social, economic and environmental considerations. One of the benefits is cost reduction to buildings, decrease of the carbon footprint of the estates and hence running costs.

Paul Bates, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, said: "We are very proud that our state-of-the-art hospital will be so eco friendly. Reducing our carbon emissions will also save us money in the long term, which means we can spend our money where it matters, on patient care."