Six years’ meticulous planning bears fruit

For almost 15 years, MIG Medical has been at the forefront of healthcare construction and engineering, specialising in fit-out and medical gas installations that ensure medical settings meet the highest clinical standards. Building on this legacy, we have recently proudly launched the UK’s first Healthcare Innovation Centre — a leading hub for clinical design in Altrincham, dedicated to revolutionising how medical settings are conceived and constructed. The Healthcare Innovation Centre marks a significant milestone for us at MIG Medical, following six years of meticulous planning and collaboration. Drawing on extensive experience from both UK and international projects, the team has worked closely with architects, designers, and medical professionals, gaining a deep understanding of their challenges and pain points.

In response to this valuable feedback, the Innovation Centre has been created with these teams in mind, creating a space that bridges the gap between theoretical designs and real-world applications. The aim was to develop a space that showcases MIG Medical’s capabilities, and acts as a dynamic platform for collaboration and progress. It allows industry professionals to experience clinical environments as close to the real thing as possible — offering a level of detail and functionality that traditional showrooms cannot provide. The hub features a fully functional operating theatre, ICU unit, open-plan meeting area, and lounge.

Support from a collective of healthcare partners

Built in partnership with international medical technology leader, Dräger, the centre’s facilities are installed to scale, and meet UK specifications and standards, supported by world-class products from Barco, Arthrex, Aspire Inside, Saturn Visual, Altro, SDS, Norwood, Mann + Hummel, and others.

“Our centre is more than just a demonstration space; it’s an opportunity to bring our clients and partners into a hands-on medical setting where they can see and interact with the full range of MIG Group’s capabilities,” explains Stephen Mitten, Group director at MIG Medical. “By showcasing our solutions, and collaborating with industry experts, we aim to build stronger relationships and drive innovation in healthcare design and construction.”

David Dunn, Integration Business Development manager at Arthrex UK, adds: “The Healthcare Innovation Centre represents a significant leap forward in showcasing advanced healthcare integration technology.

“This facility allows us to demonstrate how our solutions enhance ergonomic design, patient flow, and operational efficiency, which is crucial in modern healthcare settings. The centre’s environment enables us to delve into the specifics of cabling design, modularity, and how our integrated platforms can be tailored to meet evolving needs.

“By collaborating with MIG Medical, we ensure that our technologies align with real-world applications, helping healthcare professionals stay at the forefront of innovation. The opportunity to discuss these elements in a simulated yet realistic setting is invaluable for refining and enhancing healthcare projects.”

Victoria Roberts, Sales director for Dräger UK, adds: “We’re very proud to be a leading partner in this venture. The centre is a fantastic environment in which to learn and experience the many solutions that can be offered to enhance an acute care area.”

Anthony Mitten, Group director at MIG Medical, says: “Designed with patient and staff needs in mind, it allows us to showcase emerging technologies and practices. Our commitment to future-proofing means that the centre will evolve to meet the ever-changing demands of healthcare, ensuring it remains a vital resource for years to come.”

A ‘unique and dynamic’ space

By featuring a fully operational operating theatre, intensive care unit, and clinical washroom area, the centre provides an unparalleled opportunity for industry professionals in the UK healthcare construction sector. It surpasses traditional showrooms by providing an immersive, operational perspective on cutting-edge design and technology — something that would be impossible to gain entry to in a live hospital environment. In addition to enabling unique training opportunities for medical staff, the centre offers NHS teams, architects, designers, and contractors, the chance to develop a deeper understanding of clinical equipment and layouts as part of the design, procurement, and construction of medical facilities. The centre is a dynamic environment that evolves continuously, reflecting the latest advancements in practice, technology, and construction techniques. The operating theatre and ICU are installed to the same standards as the UK’s most modern hospitals. When equipped with medical gases, these areas could theoretically be utilised for actual medical procedures, demonstrating their real-world applicability.

This versatile space also allows visitors to explore various design features from companies across MIG Group. This includes a clinical washroom supplied by Concept Cubicle Systems and installed by the Washroom Fit Out Company, external brick slips from MIG Facades, internal design materials from Woodio UK, and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems from MIG Mechanical.

Pushing the boundaries of healthcare facility design and construction

The centre is envisioned as a hub for collaboration within the healthcare design and construction community. It offers a venue where architects, contractors, engineers, NHS surgeons, Estates teams, and senior leaders can come together to explore and refine best practices in the industry. This partnership-orientated approach aims to push the boundaries of healthcare facility design and construction, ensuring that the centre remains at the forefront of innovation and excellence.

Melanie Jacobsen Cox, head of Healthcare at HLM Architects, said: “No number of drawings or 3D visuals can replace the benefit that is offered by standing within a physical space when engaging with clinical stakeholders. Access to ICU and theatre spaces within existing estates is very limited, and what happens within these areas is complex and procedural. Being able to stand in the physical space, with interactive human movement, brings healthcare processes to life, shining a light on where there are pinch points which can then be alleviated to provide a design that serves the needs of the service being provided.”

Focus on sustainability

Alison Ryan, deputy Healthcare lead at Mott MacDonald, and for the past two years IHEEM’s President, said: “I was impressed with the centre’s emphasis on sustainability, the integration of design thinking principles for human-centred development, and the general welcoming of ideas for future improvement.

“Through exposure to the latest technological advancements for prototyping, demonstrating, and testing, the new hub provides an environment where designers, engineers, clinicians, and service-users can highlight issues that not all parties will be aware of, thereby encouraging betterment and progress.”

Dräger UK’s Victoria Roberts says: “It allows everyone to visualise the proposed infrastructure design to enable discussion about clinical workflow and design to improve patient outcomes. Getting it right at the design stage is critical to a successful installation, and negates costly adjustments later in the project. We already have plans to add an Emergency Department care area this summer, and a Neonatal intensive care area will be installed in the autumn. There is also an additional wall-mounted solution from our Linea range that will demonstrate the ability to ‘flex up’ and change a clinical area to meet changing clinical needs.”

In addition to our work on the Healthcare Innovation Centre, MIG Medical has continued to demonstrate its expertise through various high-profile projects undertaken concurrently with the showroom’s construction. One standout project is our work on the Global Mercy, the world’s largest purpose-built hospital ship, for which we won the Refurbishment Project of the Year Award at last year’s Healthcare Estates Awards, highlighting MIG’s capability to respond to complex projects through strategic refurbishment.

The team was tasked with replacing a non-compliant medical gas pipeline system with a state-of-the-art installation that met both HTM 02-01 and Lloyd’s Marine standards. Over five months in Port Granadilla, Tenerife, MIG installed six kilometres of pipework, 23 area valve and service units, and 563 medical gas terminal units, ensuring the ship could deliver critical care to those in need worldwide.

“The Global Mercy project was a testament to our team’s capability to tackle complex assignments,” explains Sam Mitten, Group director at MIG Medical, and Project lead. “Our ability to meet the highest standards while adapting to the unique needs of a floating hospital highlights our commitment to excellence in healthcare engineering.”

Building on its success with the Global Mercy, the team’s expertise in modular construction continues to go from strength to strength, as demonstrated by its pivotal role in expanding the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Following its successful installation of a modular surgical facility at the hospital in 2021, the team partnered with Wernick Buildings to address the hospital’s limited bed capacity.

Two-storey expansion

The project involved a significant two-storey expansion of the existing unit, with MIG Medical handling the full interior fit-out. Each ward includes 12 single-bed and 12 four-bed rooms, complete with en-suite washrooms and ancillary rooms. To ensure that the wards maintain excellent hygiene standards and infection control, the team installed Medi-Form units, which feature a modular structure and a timber-free construction encapsulated in PVC — developed for healthcare environments.

The team’s comprehensive fit-out extends to our mechanical division, which provided a full MEP package — from advanced lighting, nurse call systems, fire alarms, and extract, to ventilation, heating, and cooling circuits. Together, they ensured compliance to HTM and DDA standards. MIG’s commitment to quality and safety was evident throughout the project. The team worked diligently to address every detail, providing a turnkey solution tailored to the specific requirements of the care facilities.

Our collaboration with Wernick Buildings and the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust highlights MIG Medical’s dedication to supporting the hospital’s development strategy through a rapid, modular solution.

The company’s knowledge and skill in healthcare fit-outs was further demonstrated in a high-impact project at Peterborough City Hospital, which involved a full 20-bed modular ward fit-out, completed within a 24-week timeframe. The new ward was developed to meet urgent demands for additional patient capacity, and features 5 four-bed bays, each equipped with essential medical systems such as bedhead trunking, nurse call systems, and anti-ligature curtains and blinds. The facility also includes comprehensive staff amenities, such as a staff base, utility rooms, a pantry, and a waiting area.

Both MIG Mechanical and MIG Medical delivered a full fit-out service by installing advanced mechanical systems, including efficient heat pumps and air-handling units. These installations ensure optimal patient comfort and operational reliability, meeting all required HTM standards. The project also included installing a sophisticated BMS control system for seamless management of the ward’s environmental conditions.

“Together, this project showcased our ability to deliver high-quality solutions efficiently. Our detailed planning and execution ensured the state-of-the-art modular ward met all expectations,” explains Stephen Mitten, director at MIG Medical. He adds: “This project highlights our commitment to precision, ensuring that the ward meets all the required standards for staff to administer excellent patient care.”

The successful completion of the George Eliot Hospital expansion and the Peterborough City Hospital modular ward underscores the team’s expertise in delivering comprehensive fit-out solutions across various applications. This track record of success sets the stage for future progression at the Healthcare Innovation Centre, where MIG Medical will continue to demonstrate its commitment to excellence. As we prepare to introduce new care areas, and showcase our advanced environments at upcoming events, the new hub remains at the forefront of shaping the future of healthcare construction.

Future plans

Looking to the future, MIG Medical is poised for some exciting initiatives at the Healthcare Innovation Centre. With plans under way to introduce an Emergency Department care area and a Neonatal Intensive Care unit, these additions will significantly enhance the facilities’ capacity to simulate real-world settings and provide invaluable insight to healthcare design. Adding to the anticipation, MIG Medical will soon host a launch event for the Innovation Centre, offering industry professionals a chance to experience its cutting-edge environment first-hand. This event will mark a significant milestone, celebrating the hub’s capabilities, and serving as a platform for discussing the future of healthcare construction. These developments will also be presented on stand E3 at this month’s Healthcare Estates exhibition.

The company continues to achieve remarkable success through its fit-out projects, demonstrating our team’s commitment to effective and efficient solutions. As MIG moves forward, the upcoming launch event will be a key occasion to celebrate these advancements, and the centre’s evolving role in shaping the future of medical facilities.