As healthcare continues to evolve, hospitals and A&E departments must adapt to meet the demands of modern medical practices and growing patient needs. At Sutcliffe, we are at the forefront of this transformation, applying our expertise in civil and structural engineering to deliver cutting-edge solutions for healthcare facilities. With a proven track record of working on hospitals, primary care centres, and mental health facilities, our goal is to ensure that healthcare environments are equipped for today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges.
Balancing functionality and sustainability in hospital design
One of the key challenges in modern healthcare design is balancing functional requirements with sustainability goals. Hospitals today need to accommodate advanced medical technology while also minimising their environmental impact. Our work on The Warrens Medical Centre, Wirral, for West Wirral Primary Care Trust exemplifies how this balance can be achieved.
Located on greenbelt land, this two-storey primary care centre houses a GP surgery, specialist clinics, a pharmacy, and teaching areas. The project’s design focused on blending the building with its natural surroundings, lowering the structure two metres into the ground to reduce its visual impact. We used local materials, including natural stone and green oak cladding, to align the building with sustainability principles. The design achieved an ‘excellent’ rating under the BREEAM certification, underscoring its environmental performance. This project is a perfect example of how Sutcliffe integrates environmental considerations with functional healthcare design, as recognised by the Green Apple Sustainability Award 2021 and LRSA Design Award 2021.
Meeting modern healthcare demands: Mental health facilities
The shift towards patient-centric care is reshaping the way hospitals are designed, especially in mental health facilities. Privacy, dignity, and comfort are now at the heart of these designs, as seen in our work on the Mossley Hill Mental Health Facility in Liverpool.
Developed for Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, this new facility will feature 80 single bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, replacing the traditional shared dormitory wards. The project’s design enhances privacy and dignity while providing therapeutic environments, family visiting areas, and safe outdoor spaces. Sutcliffe is responsible for both the civil and structural design, including below-ground drainage, substructure, and superstructure elements. Our innovative cut-and-fill analysis helped optimise the earthworks, while our design for the lightweight roof structure ensures energy efficiency and long-term sustainability. By modernising mental health care environments, we are helping to create safe, dignified spaces for patients and their families.
Upgrading critical care facilities: Liverpool Women’s Hospital
With the increasing need for advanced medical technology, hospitals must be designed or upgraded to accommodate complex imaging equipment and patient care requirements. At Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Sutcliffe provided civil, structural, and site investigation services for the £3M Crown Street Improvement Project, which involved extending the ground floor to create a new imaging and colposcopy department.
One of the main engineering challenges was integrating modern MRI and CT scanners with the existing hospital infrastructure, which required both structural modifications and detailed site assessments. Our team conducted a comprehensive site investigation, including Phase I, II, and III studies to address environmental and site-specific issues. By working closely with the architects and contractors, we ensured that the new imaging department would enhance diagnostic capabilities while maintaining the structural integrity of the building.
We also played a crucial role in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) extension, which added a significant first-floor addition. The structural complexities of this project, including the integration of cantilever beams and piled foundations, required meticulous engineering to ensure the safety and functionality of the extension. Our bespoke Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) helped manage surface water, further demonstrating our commitment to sustainable solutions in healthcare projects.
Expanding Emergency Care Services: Stepping Hill Hospital
The modernisation of emergency care facilities is vital to ensuring that hospitals can meet the growing demands of patient care. Sutcliffe’s involvement in the Stepping Hill Hospital project in Stockport is a prime example of our ability to deliver complex engineering solutions under tight deadlines and stringent requirements.
This project involved the full-scale remodel of the hospital’s emergency department, including 2,600 sqm of internal refurbishment and 1,300 sqm of new construction. The redevelopment introduced new services, including a dedicated children’s emergency department, enhanced mental health facilities, and same-day emergency care. Our work included detailed substructure and superstructure design, ensuring that new structural components integrated seamlessly with the existing infrastructure. This project highlights our ability to modernise healthcare facilities while minimising disruption to ongoing hospital operations.
Transforming A&E departments: Arrowe Park Hospital
Working within live hospital environments adds another layer of complexity to our projects. Our work on the Arrowe Park Hospital A&E department extension in Wirral required a strategic approach to ensure that NHS services could continue uninterrupted.
The project involved the demolition of the existing urgent treatment centre and staff accommodation to make way for an expanded A&E department with improved ambulance bays and a streamlined entry point. To minimise disruption, we conducted structural surveys outside normal hours and designed efficient, cost-effective foundations. Our demolition strategy preserved essential structural walls, simplifying the refurbishment process and adding value to the project.
Engineering solutions for future healthcare
Sutcliffe’s approach to healthcare engineering focuses on creating adaptable, sustainable facilities that are equipped for both current demands and future growth. We are dedicated to expanding capacity, integrating advanced medical technologies, and ensuring that hospital upgrades are implemented without disrupting ongoing services. Our extensive experience across a range of healthcare projects, from mental health facilities to critical care extensions, positions us as a leader in the field.
By prioritising patient comfort, addressing patient wait times and integrating sustainability using modern methods, Sutcliffe is helping build the future of healthcare infrastructure in the UK.
If you’re interested in how Sutcliffe can support your healthcare project, please get in touch