Morgan Sindall Construction has delivered two refurbishment projects for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust at St Richard’s Hospital, a medium-sized district general hospital in Chichester, West Sussex.

This included handing over a new Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit and the installation of a temporary mortuary to enable the existing facility to be upgraded. Both projects were procured via the SCAPE Construction Framework.

The £6 million SDEC project refurbished a former acute medical unit into a modern facility which includes a waiting area, one treatment room, one triage, one separation room and 18 bays with trolley and chair spaces for assessment and treatment.

This work will significantly increase the hospital’s ability to assess, investigate and treat patients without them having to be admitted overnight onto a ward and a hospital bed.

The project took 14 weeks to complete with the contractor paying attention to reducing noise and vibration to the hospital’s bed ward, which is located directly above the new unit, as well as considering how and when materials and equipment could be moved across the hospital’s ‘blue light’ route.

The temporary mortuary project was initiated following a structural assessment which identified reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete within the roof of the hospital’s existing mortuary.

To ensure the long-term safety and integrity of the building, a new permanent roof structure will need to be designed and installed. A temporary modular mortuary was constructed to maintain vital services to enable the roof and internal improvements to be carried out.

The nature of the project meant Morgan Sindall had to account for specific requirements including maintaining temperature-controlled conditions; ensuring a private, enclosed space to protect respect for the deceased; providing a secure undertaker drop-off area; and installing strict security measures to safeguard the facility and its operations.

Guy Hannell, area director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “These projects have futureproofed St Richard’s Hospital in several key ways. The SDEC unit will alleviate pressure on emergency services while boosting the hospital’s capacity to treat patients and the RAAC improvement works will ensure the safety and resilience of the trust’s estate for many years to come. What’s more, delivering both projects on time and within budget helps the trust with its long-term plans, investments and operations.

“We’ve built up a strong, collaborative working relationship with University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust over several previous developments. This has been a central ingredient to the success of these projects, as it’s crucial that the trust’s clinical teams have confidence that we will be responsive and considerate to their demanding, changing and sensitive work.”

Sean Kedzia, hospital director at St Richard’s Hospital commented: “These developments mark an important step forward in our commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care across University Hospitals Sussex. The new Same Day Emergency Care unit is a vital addition to our clinical services, helping us treat patients more efficiently while easing pressure on our emergency department and inpatient wards. It reflects our strategic focus on improving access, outcomes, and experience for all our patients. The new mortuary is also a meaningful improvement, further demonstrating our dedication to enhancing services in every part of the hospital.”