MTX Contracts to build new renal hub at Basildon University Hospital

Modern Methods of Construction specialist MTX Contracts Ltd has been chosen by Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust to design and build a new acute kidney (renal) hub at Basildon University Hospital.

Facilities within the new single storey building will include six 4-bed wards and two single-bed dialysis units connected by the link corridor to the existing hospital for a seamless integration with the hospital operations. The dialysis units will be designed for optimal patient comfort and clinical efficiency, including individual treatment bays, integrated water treatment systems, and space for staff to manage multiple patients safely.

The new facility will also incorporate ancillary assessment rooms and staff areas. Air handling units and other equipment serving the building will be located in a first-storey plant room.

Built using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), the new facility will be fast-trackedwith hybrid construction methods, for a planned Summer 2026 opening. Construction will be accelerated using precisely engineered structural steel units, factory-manufactured offsite and craned into position for assembly on site. Elements of the mechanical and electrical equipment supporting the building will also be designed for modular construction and manufactured and tested offsite before delivery and final assembly.  

Employing MMC and Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles alongside proven project management systems ensures that the new facility can be delivered faster, greener, more safely and more cost effectively than by using traditional construction methods. This enables the facility to treat patients more quickly and reduces the impact of the construction work on the normal running of the hospital.

Mark Hope, Interim Director of Estates at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We chose MTX as they were able to offer the quality of construction with the speed we needed to get things moving. We wanted to be able to offer our patients state of the art facilities, that were within a reasonable budget and needed as little construction time as possible. This minimises disruption on our busy hospital site and helps us deliver the project in faster time frame.”

MTX Managing Director David Hartley explained: “As a specialist in the provision of new healthcare facilities for hospitals, MTX brings to each project a vast amount of experience and expertise. Our healthcare-dedicated architects, designers and project managers are skilled at working within hospital environments while minimising disruption for patients and staff.  

“In collaboration with the Trust, our priority is always to deliver a fully compliant facility that meets the urgent clinical needs and represents excellent value for money for the Trust.”

Basildon University Hospital is part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust andsupports a wider population of 1.2 million people across mid and south Essex. The site specialises in vascular, cardiac and renal care.

The creation of a new acute kidney (renal) unit represents the latest stage in the hospital’s evolution and by enabling the decant of services provided by the existing renal unit, creates further upgrade opportunities within the main hospital building.