The Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), which cleans, decontaminates and sterilises medical equipment and instruments used in operating theatres, will soon be relocated to the unit, which is currently in separate sections and being craned into position by a specialist team.
Need for relocation
The CSSD is a service that’s essential to The QEH Theatres department and the life-saving operations they perform every day.
The department is currently in a building built of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concreated (RAAC). Despite temporary work that has already taken place to strengthen the building, this area needs further support and it will now need to be replaced.
‘A positive step’
Paul Brooks, Director of Estates and Facilities, said: “The arrival of this new modular building is a positive step in our RAAC failsafe programme.
This department is essential to the life-saving work our clinicians perform every day. Without it there would be a significant loss in the services we can offer at The QEH.
Our teams have been working hard to plan for the arrival of this new module, ensuring its arrival causes as little disruption as possible.”
The unit is expected to be operational from summer 2025 and the building will remain on the site when the new hospital for King’s Lynn is built.
It’s being added to an area to the west of the QEH site, accessible via the service road. Marshals will be in place to direct traffic and pedestrians as needed.
Those wishing to enter the site are asked to do so via the main entrance where possible to reduce congestion in the area.
