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Construction

Cumberland Infirmary- Endoscopy Facility – Carlisle

Actiform delivered a brand-new five-room modular endoscopy unit at Cumberland Infirmary — replacing an ageing, undersized facility and bringing NHS-standard diagnostic care to more patients across North Cumbria, without the need to travel to Newcastle.

Expertise
  • Modular clinical facility design and build
  • HBN-compliant endoscopy and diagnostic environments
  • Sustainable construction (BREEAM accredited)
Deliverables
  • 5 fully compliant clinical endoscopy procedure rooms
  • BREEAM-accredited build with green roof, solar panels & heat recovery
  • Outpatients area, paediatric accommodation & staff welfare facilities

Cumberland Infirmary’s existing endoscopy unit — built in the late 1990s and just 397m² — had become critically inadequate. With only three procedure rooms, two of which were non-compliant with Health Building Note (HBN) standards, the facility could not achieve JAG accreditation, meet the NHS six-week diagnostic standard, or accommodate recovery, paediatric care, staff welfare, or training. Rising post-pandemic demand made the situation urgent.

Challenge

Solution

  1. 01/

    Challenge

    The existing unit’s non-compliant rooms were blocking JAG accreditation — the national quality standard for endoscopy services — putting the entire service at risk.

    Solution

    Actiform delivered five new procedure rooms, all designed and built to current HBN standards and JAG accreditation requirements. The new unit also supports the NHS six-week diagnostic standard, directly addressing the compliance failures of the previous facility and future-proofing the service for evolving clinical requirements.

  2. 02/

    Challenge

    The old facility had no adequate provision for recovery, paediatric patients, gender-specific needs, or staff welfare — limiting both the range of patients that could be served and the quality of their experience.

    Solution

    The new unit introduced dedicated recovery and pre-assessment areas, paediatric accommodation, gender-segregated recovery space, and improved staff welfare and training facilities. The outpatients area and expanded administrative support further enhanced the overall patient experience from arrival through to discharge.

  3. 03/

    Challenge

    The project needed to deliver a landmark building on a live hospital site — one that demonstrated what modern modular construction is capable of architecturally, not just functionally.

    Solution

    Actiform implemented a standout design that did not compromise the architect’s original vision, proving that off-site manufactured structures can be architecturally ambitious. The building features a green roof, staff terrace, extensive timber structural members, solar panels, heat recovery systems, and high-performance thermal insulation — earning BREEAM accreditation and the Considerate Contractor Award with a score of 42 out of 45.

Our Approach

 

Actiform delivered the project as a full design and build contract for client Ergea, managing the complete programme from off-site manufacture through to on-site installation and clinical fit-out. The modular approach enabled the complex facility to be built to exacting standards in a controlled environment before being installed with minimal disruption to the live Cumberland Infirmary site.

Sustainability was embedded throughout — from the extensive use of low-embodied-carbon timber structural members to the energy-efficient HVAC system, solar array, and heat recovery. The completed building achieved BREEAM accreditation, setting a high bar for environmental performance on the site. Community and safety standards were equally prioritised, reflected in the Considerate Contractor Award score of 42/45.

The facility also addresses a significant access issue for the region: patients who previously had to travel to Newcastle for endoscopy procedures can now be seen locally in Carlisle.

The Results

£8.1mContract value

42/45Considerate Contractor Award score

5HBN-compliant clinical rooms

Working closely with our estates and clinical leads, Actiform supported the design and build of a new modular emergency care unit at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow. The team helped us move away from traditional, siloed structures towards a flexible, technology-enabled space, working hand in hand with our design team to deliver a future-focused build, fully integrated into hospital operations.

Pasqualino Risi

Associate director of Estates and Facilities, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust