Birmingham Children’s Hospital has undergone a major redevelopment thanks to an award through NHS England’s ProCure23 framework – a strategic partnership between NHS England and Crown Commercial Service.
Key features of the new three-storey clinical building include OTs, a recovery area, and a state-of-the art intraoperative MRI (iMRI) machine, which was funded by the hospital’s charity.
Medical Air Technology (MAT), which has worked with Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust on previous projects, was contracted to supply and install two OTs in the new building, both of which include an ECO-flow Stealth ultraclean ventilation (UCV) system.
One of the theatres also has the latest intraoperative imaging and diagnostic technology, with the iMRI linked to Brainlab specialist imaging equipment to allow neurosurgeons to obtain real-time images of a brain tumour intraoperatively, ensuring more accurate identification and removal of tumours.
In the theatre, two iMRI displays are mounted on the arms of the operating lights, which are also prepared for future camera installation. Additionally, the theatre has a wall-mounted monitor and room cameras. All the specialist elements required by the iMRI had to be taken into consideration by the MAT team during the design phase. Post-installation and handover, MAT organised end user, clinical, and estates engineering training on how to use all elements of the MCP.