Morgan Sindall has hosted a topping-out ceremony mark a significant phase in the development of Milton Keynes University Hospital's (MKUH) new radiotherapy centre.

Guests from the project's key stakeholders, including MKUH, Oxford University Hospitals, Morgan Sindall Construction and Milton Keynes Council, visited the site to commemorate the final beam being placed in the radiotherapy centre’s structural framework.

During the event, attendees were welcomed by MKUH CEO Joe Harrison and Morgan Sindall Area Director David Rowsell. Guests then heard from Sally Burnie, Head of Cancer Services and Lead Cancer Nurse at MKUH, and Melanie Beck, Chief Executive at My Milton Keynes BID, who is a past patient and donor. Attendees were invited to sign a major feature of the build - the bunker that will house the linear accelerator (LINAC) treatment suites.

Morgan Sindall's Northern Home Counties business was selected by MKUH to oversee the construction of the multi-million project, which will connect to the hospital’s recently opened Cancer Centre via a link corridor. The project was procured via the Pagabo national framework for major construction works and it is expected to be completed by spring 2024 and open to patients in late summer of the same year.

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The new, two-floor facility will improve access to radiotherapy for patients who currently must travel to other hospitals in the region to receive this treatment. When complete, the centre will house two state-of-the-art medical LINAC bunkers and will include a main reception, consultation rooms and a CT scanner area. The services in the Radiotherapy Centre will be run by Oxford University Hospitals.

The specialised nature of the project has presented several unique construction challenges, for which the tier one contractor devised tailored solutions in line with its Intelligent Solutions approach to construction. This included the need to create 2.6m thick concrete walls and a 1.4m thick roof to prevent radiation leakage from the onsite radiotherapy equipment. Due to the size of the walls and complexity of applying this quantity of concrete, a schedule of long pours was designed so that the thickness is achieved without compromising the quality of the concrete structure. 90 tonnes of steel have been used in the roof slab alone.

As it stands, steel frame blocks one and two have been erected, with external wall lining now taking shape following the steel frame’s completion. The bunker walls were poured in 11 stages and were completed at the beginning of April, with the roof works commencing at the beginning of May. Morgan Sindall plan to have completed the roof pour in June.

Morgan Sindall has also accounted for several logistical factors. This has included extensive material delivery preparations to avoid undue inconvenience to the hospital's patients and staff. Materials will be brought through the rear of the building, bypassing the front of the hospital where the new unit will be located, as this is an important access point for the adjoining cancer centre, its drop off-point, car park and nearby energy facilities.