Ergéa UK facilitates the building of the new endoscopy unit to benefit patients in Cumbria

As part of a Managed Equipment Service (MES) contract and in collaboration with North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust (NCIC), Ergéa has supported the development of a state-of-the-art endoscopy unit at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

This £15 million facility promises to bring substantial healthcare benefits to the people of Cumbria, streamlining access to diagnostic services and significantly reducing waiting times.

By delivering this solution, Ergéa is helping the Trust address capacity challenges and upgrade its procedure rooms. Our approach, designed to stay within budget, will also enable completion a year faster than traditional construction methods – offering timely and efficient support to meet the Trust’s needs.

Ergéa has helped ensure that the unit is built to be future proof. The facility’s design includes provisions for flexible expansion as demand grows, enabling the hospital to maintain and scale its services as the population’s healthcare needs evolve. This foresight aligns with Ergéa’s commitment to creating durable, high-impact healthcare infrastructure that can serve communities for generations to come.

Ergéa is working closely with Actiform to develop this unit using modern, sustainable construction methods. These innovative approaches ensure the facility is both environmentally friendly and cost-effective, while enabling fast construction without compromising quality – providing patients with timely access to accurate diagnoses.

The key benefits include:

• Faster Access to Endoscopy: More patients will receive their diagnostic procedure within six weeks of referral, in line with national standards.
• Increased Capacity: The additional rooms will enable up to 30 extra procedure lists per week, reducing waiting times.
• Upgraded Procedure Rooms: This will enhance patient experience for treatment and diagnosis help reduce backlogs in waiting lists.
• Reduced Travel for Patients: Patients will no longer need to travel outside the region for diagnostic care, making services more accessible.
• Improved Health Outcomes: Prompt diagnoses, especially for conditions such as cancer, will improve health outcomes and reduce patient anxiety.
• JAG Accreditation: The facility will meet the highest standards for GI endoscopy, ensuring best practices are followed.
• Cost-effective and Sustainable Solution: The Endoscopy Unit will meet the highest environmental and healthcare standards.

Mr Daya Karat, consultant surgeon at NCIC, explains: “It’s really good news to see this project underway, as it will have such great benefits for our local communities across North Cumbria and for our staff.

“The new facility will have more clinic rooms that all meet modern standards that we are not able to meet in the current environment. Expanding our endoscopy service will help us to make faster diagnoses and meet the rising demand for the service. It also brings the Unit in line with what we already have at the West Cumberland Hospital following the redevelopment in 2015.”

Craig Farrow, Commercial Director at Ergéa, commented, “We’re proud to be part of this project, which marks a significant milestone in our partnership with the Trust. Together, we’ve developed an efficient and cost-effective solution tailored to meet and exceed the requirements of the new Endoscopy department that will expand the Trust’s capacity, enhance the quality of procedure rooms, elevate the patient experience for diagnosis and treatment, and play a key role in reducing waiting list backlogs.”

Ergéa’s collaboration with North Cumbria in building this new endoscopy unit underscores our commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality in underserved areas. We are pleased to bring our expertise in MES to this project, working alongside Actiform’s innovative construction capabilities to create a meaningful and lasting impact for the residents of North Cumbria.

Please visit https://ergeagroup.com/uk/ to find out more.