Installation of new hydraulic lift in modular building for Stoke Hospital

We have just completed the installation of a selection of new lifts in Stoke Hospital, as part of a mammoth project in association with Portakabin, which has seen an entire new ward put together like a jigsaw puzzle.

The project was completed in just two weeks, and saw us install a 2500kg / 33-person twin ram hydraulic passenger lift, large enough to hold a hospital bed and a handful of medical staff simultaneously, for trips to theatre and back.

As a premier lift designer and manufacturer, we have worked on many large-scale projects of this ilk before – but this one was totally unique, with the lifts installed in a modular building rather than a bricks-and-mortar static location. The modular solution was developed to meet the need for a high-quality, fully-fitted interim ward and theatre building at Stoke Hospital, which meant a number of challenges, as they installed their bespoke solution.

Celine Coladello, said, “This project represented a unique challenge for the team here at Curti Lifts – not only were we installing a lift solution against the clock, we also had to ensure we met all of the new HTM08-02 regulations, as well as providing a smooth lifting experience that could accommodate hospital beds for patients on their way to and from the operating theatre. Our in-house CAD team also had to coordinate the entire design to meet the dimensions of the modular Portakabin system – a challenge we rarely face when installing lifts.”

In order to make the lifting experience as smooth as possible, we allowed for the inclusion of an electronic valve to the hydraulic system. This facilitated very refined adjustments and ensured that travel for patients on the way to theatre was as smooth as possible. With just two weeks of eight-hour working days on site, the installation of the equipment on-time was an achievement in itself – the highly efficient project management team ensured that client requirements were met with daily dashboard meetings and very tight working schedules for all.

The new ward will mainly be used by North Staffordshire patients needing orthopaedic operations, including hip and knee replacements. The ward also opened as part of a package to introduce 150 extra beds for Stafford patients and those admitted from A&E. The modular buildings themselves are of an incredibly high quality, fitted with American white oak from the Appalachian Mountains, and of course, kitted out with exceptionally reliable Curti Lifts.