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Tag: NHS

Offices and Meeting Rooms

ON-DEMAND® OFFICE SPACE AND MEETING ROOMS Whether you’re adding to your existing estate or need space to decant during refurbishment, we have the space to suit your office and meeting room needs. We design your On-Demand® space to your requirements, build it in our factory and install at your location. This means you get the […]

Case Study: InHealth Consultation Rooms

InHealth mobile CT scanner - a clinician stands next to the machine. A patient is laid on the bed being scanned.

InHealth, the UK’s largest provider of diagnostic and healthcare solutions, required dedicated spaces for patients to wait for their scan and undertake any required pre-scan assessments. All while ensuring both staff and patients are kept in comfort.

Staff and Admin Spaces

ON-DEMAND® STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE SPACES Flexible, non-clinical spaces for your healthcare ecosystem. Your estate needs more than clinical capacity to function at its best. Staff need a place to rest, administrative teams need suitable office spaces and secure storage is essential for everything from critical equipment to confidential records. Our On-Demand® staff and administrative spaces […]

Case Study: Southmead Elective Centre

Bristol Southmead Elective Centre - worm's eye view of the building exterior, taken from a drone

Darwin Group were commissioned to design and deliver a new Elective Centre in Southmead. The Elective Centre features four operating theatres as well as 40 recovery beds for patients. This will enable an additional 6,700 operations to be carried out across the area every year.

Blog: Pioneering the ‘Third Way’ for NHS Estates

A clinician in full PPE and blue scrubs in a dark operating theatre - there is a large, circular surgical light in the background

Recent reports from the Royal College of Surgeons and national media paint a compelling picture: waiting lists now exceed 7.3 million patients, with over 170,000 waiting more than a year for treatment. The 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census highlights burnout, limited theatre access, and rising attrition among trainees. Meanwhile, almost half of NHS surgeons are operating just once a week due to bed shortages and outdated facilities.

Case Study: James Paget Orthopaedic Outpatient Centre

James Paget Orthopaedic Outpatient Centre - exterior 3/4 view. The building is clad in dark grey paneling and features bright yellow hand rails for the ramp and stairs.

The Trust needed a same-day emergency care (SDEC) unit to bolster its urgent and emergency care offering. To provide the best patient flow through the current hospital building, the optimal location for the SDEC was next to the hospital’ emergency department (ED). The space neighbouring the ED was being used to house the Trust’s orthopaedic outpatient services.

Case Study: James Paget Orthopaedic Elective Centre

James Paget Orthopaedic Elective Centre - exterior

The JPOC and Oulton Suite are a transformative step for healthcare delivery at the JPUH in Gorleston, Norfolk.
Operating seven days a week, 50 weeks a year, it will provide a planned 1,400 extra theatre sessions annually…

Case Study: Hinckley Community Diagnostic Centre

Bird's eye view of the CDC

In collaboration with NHS Property Services (NHSPS), University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL), Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, and the MP for Hinckley & Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans (who is also Shadow Health Minister),
LLR ICB approached Darwin Group for its
expertise in delivering quality healthcare facilities.

Case Study: Sutton Cottage Hospital Decant Space

Sutton Cottage decant space - consultation room interior

Sutton Cottage Hospital at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was first built in 1897. It has been developed in four stages, with the most recent addition in 1936. Issues like uneven floors and out-of-date infrastructure were limiting the accessibility of the building, which led to the Trust’s decision to undertake a significant renovation project at the site. Planned for 12 months, this project will see substantial improvements to the existing site for patients and staff.

Blog: Reframing NHS Surgical Challenges as Opportunities for Evolution

A clinician in full PPE and blue scrubs in a dark operating theatre - there is a large, circular surgical light in the background

Recent reports from the Royal College of Surgeons and national media paint a compelling picture: waiting lists now exceed 7.3 million patients, with over 170,000 waiting more than a year for treatment. The 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census highlights burnout, limited theatre access, and rising attrition among trainees. Meanwhile, almost half of NHS surgeons are operating just once a week due to bed shortages and outdated facilities.

Blog: Flipping the Script on Value in the NHS

Clinician in blue scrubs in an operating theatre, adjusting a pendant light

The NHS was founded on a radical promise: that healthcare should be free at the point of need, funded collectively, and delivered with compassion. That promise still holds. But to protect it, we must evolve how we think about value—especially when it comes to the estate.

Case Study: Two-storey Ward Building at Leighton Hospital

Darwin Group was able to utilise the company’s innovative modular build systems to provide a new 60 bed two-storey ward building featuring a mixture of single and multi-bed bays, complemented with ancillary accommodation – utility spaces, storage and staff areas – and a specialist physiotherapy space.

All products

ON-DEMAND® HEALTHCARE SPACES We provide the right building, at the right time, for as long as it’s needed. Whatever you need from your healthcare estate, there’s an On-Demand® solution to help your team continue delivering great care. From operating theatres and ward accommodation to GP surgeries, ambulance handover units and discharge lounges, whether you need […]

Portfolio

OUR PORTFOLIO Our On-Demand® range of facilities covers everything from Ultraclean Operating Theatres to GP surgeries and non-clinical support spaces. Here are just a few examples of recent projects that we have successfully delivered…

Case Study: Older Adult Mental Health Ward in Surrey

New Spenser external - garden and pergola

Due to the on-going construction of a new mental health hospital on the site of the former Abraham Cowley Unit (ACU), a temporary facility was required to offer capacity for older adult mental health care for a few years. Additionally, the new construction would need to be easy to repurpose, to help the Trust adapt to the ever-changing needs of the estate.

Careers

CAREERS From design and construction to manufacturing, HR, finance, sales and marketing – there’s a huge variety of skills and experience required for us to do what we do. That means we’re always on the lookout for talented people to join our team and assist us in providing the NHS with the facilities it needs […]

The team

THE TEAM Our people are what make us great, and we’re incredibly proud to have a diverse and multi-skilled, highly experienced team at Darwin Group. And we all share one key desire: to improve healthcare for everyone in the UK.

Our history

OUR HISTORY Founded in 2006, Darwin Group is a leading provider of modular healthcare facilities in the UK. With innovation and quality at the heart of all we do, we work in partnership with healthcare providers to create outstanding healthcare facilities that are adaptable and fit for the future. Since 2019, we have specialised exclusively […]

Who we are

WHO WE ARE Darwin Group partners with NHS and independent healthcare providers to meet growing service demands by delivering transitional On-Demand® healthcare spaces tailored to both the duration and nature of need. Whether supporting the elective backlog, decanting services, supporting refurbishment, alleviating pressure during periods of high demand, or responding to unexpected surges, our healthcare […]

Case Study: Airedale ICU and General Ward

Airedale ITU and general ward exterior 3/4 image, the building features white, blue and grey cladding and large windows

Prior to commencing our construction project, we conducted thorough site surveys that revealed unfavourable ground conditions in the intended construction area. Additionally, the site exhibited significant changes in elevation.

Resources

RESOURCES From brochures to whitepapers, this is the place to access all of the resources we provide. Every space counts A whitepaper examining the role of NHS estates in delivering a seamless patient pathway. on-demand® primary care Our brochure of On-Demand® products for Primary Care healthcare spaces. Five point plan report A report detailing our […]

Events

EVENTS Darwin Group live events, tours and webinars offer regular opportunities to hear from industry experts on key topics and themes. You can catch up on our recent events below.   For information on upcoming events, please email: enquiries@darwingroup.co.uk

Services

BEYOND FOUR WALLS By choosing an On-Demand® solution, you receive more than just a building: you also receive a high-quality service that helps you make the most out of your healthcare facility. Remove avoidable downtime Maximise productivity across your facility No extra strain on existing services SERVICES Workforce insourcing With our workforce insourcing options, you […]

Decant capacity

FAST, PERMANENT-GRADE SPACES TO KEEP SERVICES RUNNING When healthcare services need to move – planned or unplanned – speed, safety and certainty are critical. We deliver a wide range of On-Demand®, permanent-grade clinical and non-clinical healthcare facilities to support service decant, enabling continuity of care when existing buildings are unavailable. Estate issues such as repair, […]

Primary Care

ON-DEMAND® PRIMARY CARE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES Add capacity. Boost resilience. Cut backlogs. From additional Consultation Rooms and fully contained GP Surgeries, to Dentist Surgeries and Office Spaces, we have clinical and non-clinical On-Demand Primary Care Facilities to suit your needs. All our Primary Care Facilities manufactured in factory environments so can be delivered at pace, for as long as you need – all without compromising […]

Urgent and Emergency Care

URGENT & EMERGENCY CARE HEALTHCARE FACILITIES Permanent-Grade. Available to hire. Our Permanent-Grade, On-Demand® urgent and emergency care healthcare facilities help you to keep things flowing on your estate, clearing bottlenecks and freeing up valuable bed space. We have designed a fully compliant SDEC, an ambulance handover unit and a patient discharge lounge (see below for […]

Ward accommodation

WARD ACCOMMODATION Permanent-Grade. Available to hire. You can never have too much patient accommodation, but it can be incredibly difficult to manage the ever-changing requirements of a modern healthcare estate. That’s where our Permanent-Grade, On-Demand® patient accommodation comes in. Whether you need decant facilities, long-term ward space, extra intensive care space or accommodation to support a […]

Operating Theatres

ON-DEMAND® ULTRACLEAN OPERATING THEATRES Permanent-Grade. Available to hire. Looking to add additional surgical services and capacity? Setting up a new, dedicated surgical hub? Or do you need to maintain services during refurbishment? Our On-Demand® Ultraclean Operating Theatres mean you can add vital surgical capacity at pace – without compromising on quality, cost, staff welfare or […]

On-Demand

HEALTHCARE FACILITIES.WHEN YOU NEED.FOR AS LONG AS YOU NEED. With the ever-increasing demands on the healthcare sector, we partner with organisations to ensure their estate can deal with the pressures faced today in a safe and productive environment, whilst being ready to adapt to the evolving future needs of healthcare. From Surgical Hubs and Patient Accommodation to Urgent Care Capacity and GP Surgeries, we provide you with […]

Blog: Why Static Estates Are Failing Winter Care

Outside a hospital emergency department. Ambulances are parked and there is snow on the ground.

Every winter, the NHS faces a tidal wave of demand. But while frontline staff stretch to meet it, the buildings they work in stay frozen in time. Static estates—rigid, outdated, and crumbling—are failing to support modern care. And the consequences are felt in every corridor, waiting room, and emergency department across the country. At Darwin Group, we believe infrastructure should be an enabler, not a barrier. So, let’s talk about why static estates are breaking down, and how dynamic, modular solutions can change the game.

Interview: Professor Martin Elliott – On-Demand® Ultraclean Operating Theatres

The Darwin Group On-Demand® Ultraclean Twin Operating Theatre aims to address surgical backlogs and pressure on NHS estates. It offers a permanent-grade, modular facility designed to meet the most stringent clinical standards while being deployable at pace. To explore its impact and potential, we spoke with Professor Martin Elliott, renowned paediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, Medical Director, TED talker and healthcare lecturer, who recently previewed the new On-Demand twin theatre design, developed and in construction by Darwin Group.

Hinckley Community Diagnostic Centre Opening Ceremony

Darwin Group®, the healthcare estates specialist, has completed and fully handed over Hinckley Community Diagnostic Centre for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. The new centre will provide approximately 80,000 additional diagnostic tests every year to patients in Hinckley and the wider Leicestershire area.

Royal Bournemouth Hospital celebrates construction milestone – topping out ceremony with Darwin Group

Tuesday 10th June 2025 marked the last structural element being placed at the top of Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s new Coast Building, in a symbolic ‘topping out’ ceremony.

Darwin Group®, the healthcare estates specialist, has delivered and installed the highest point of Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s new Coast Building. Construction started on the site in November 2024 following a ground-breaking ceremony.

Royal Bournemouth Hospital, part of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD), is also part of the NHS’s national New Hospital Programme.

The Breaking Point: So Many Patients, Too Few GPs, and Not Enough Space…

As of April 2025, general practice in England is facing unprecedented pressure. With 63.77 million patients registered and only 28,249 full-time equivalent (FTE) fully qualified GPs, each GP is now responsible for an average of 2,257 patients. This ratio is not just a number – it’s a reflection of the growing strain on a system that is struggling to meet demand.

First look inside Norwich’s new community health centre as spring opening approaches

Local councillors and health leaders visit Magna Medical Centre, which will transform how health and care services are delivered, by bringing services closer to where patients live and providing wider services to support healthy lives. A new £11 million health centre on the outskirts of Norwich will open this spring, providing health services to thousands of patients.

RBH breaks ground on new Coast Building

Royal Bournemouth Hospital has started the main construction phase on the Coast Building, a state-of-the-art ward and catering block, that will expand patient capacity and elevate University Hospital Dorset’s services as part of the national New Hospital Programme.

The Coast Building will feature 110 new beds across four levels, a larger kitchen and catering facility, and modular, adaptable spaces designed to meet evolving healthcare needs. Spanning 10,800 square meters, the facility also reflects a commitment to sustainability, with renewable energy supported by photovoltaic panels.

New-look modular mental health bedroom earns praise at industry conference

Industry experts and service users have welcomed changes to Bedroom Evolved; a pioneering modular mental health bedroom built by healthcare construction firm Darwin Group. The firm recently showcased its new-look project at the Design in Mental Health Conference for a second year running and said feedback from visitors was very positive.

New surgical centre at Southmead Hospital takes shape

The external structure of the new Elective Centre at Southmead Hospital has now been completed. More than 200 modules have been lifted into place by a crane over six weeks to create the building structure. The centre is a joint project between North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), supported by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care Board.

‘Spaces are powerful’ – Creating spaces for greater staff and patient experiences

Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to improving the wellbeing of your workforce, the evidence base on the most effective initiatives and approaches is constantly evolving. This can provide a useful basis for reviewing the approach and making decisions as we know how important it is to retain our valued NHS workforce.

‘Working environments and break out spaces are key,’ says Raffaela Goodby, Chief People Officer at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Reimagining Estates Funding: In Partnership with NHS Confederation

Capital is a scarce resource in the NHS, yet high in demand. Existing estates are deteriorating, creating a potentially unsafe and uninviting environment for patients and staff.

But with limits on funding and an ever-changing landscape for providing care, how will the NHS meet current demands, accommodate changing needs and continue to reduce backlogs in care, all while providing outstanding patient care? Darwin Group recently partnered with the NHS Confederation to deliver a webinar on these issues.

Spotlight: Interview with Stephanie Hassanali, General Practice Nurse

As a general practice nurse in a Primary Care Network (PCN) Stephanie Hassanali has a rare insight into the challenges facing GPs.

She has been a nurse for 12 years and in general practice for the last eight of those, working across 11 practices as part of two PCNs in London.

Pioneering mental health bedroom returns for second year running

A pioneering modular mental health bedroom built by Darwin Group is returning to the Design in Mental Health Conference for a second year running. Bedroom Evolved drew in the crowds at last year’s conference when it was launched. Created by leading offsite healthcare construction firm Darwin Group, in collaboration with Safehinge Primera and Tough Furniture, it set a new bar for acceptable standards in mental health bedroom design. This year, the team behind the bedroom has made several improvements based on visitor feedback, including changes to the furniture, lighting, flooring and colour palette.

Work starts on new £49 million Elective Centre at Southmead Hospital

The Elective Centre is a joint project between North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) supported by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board and NHS England. It will enable an additional 6,500 operations to be carried out across the area every year.

Darwin Group becomes Corporate Partner with HFMA

Darwin Group is proud to announce its partnership with the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the professional body for finance staff working in healthcare.

Operating as a Corporate Partner with HFMA, Darwin Group will connect with healthcare leaders and network colleagues across a variety of activities to discuss timely estates and construction discussions, approached through a finance-focused lens.

First look behind the scenes of the new health hub in King’s Lynn

Leading healthcare construction firm Darwin Group led an exclusive progress tour around a new £11.5m health hub in King’s Lynn that is currently under construction. Over 25 guests braved the January weather to have a ‘first look’ tour of the King’s Lynn Health Hub site on Nar Ouse Way, King’s Lynn.

Home Page

PIONEERING TRANSITIONALON-DEMAND® HEALTHCARE SPACES Darwin Group designs and delivers permanent-grade, adaptable healthcare facilities that expand capacity, support staff, and enhance the patient experience. We provide the right building, at the right time, for as long as it’s needed. TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE At Darwin Group, we firmly believe every patient should have access to world-leading healthcare facilities […]

What we do

WE DELIVER PERMANENT-GRADE, TRANSITIONAL HEALTHCARE SPACES With decades of experience, Darwin Group specialises in designing and delivering transformational healthcare spaces. With vast experience built through the delivery of large, complex healthcare facilities, we are pioneering a new, innovative approach called On-Demand®. Built off-site, these permanent-grade, transitional facilities provide the right building, at the right time, […]

Sustainability

MEETING NET ZERO TARGETS As Darwin Group manage the entire process – from concept to completion, we have direct interventions in place to decarbonise our construction approach. MEETING NET ZERO TARGETS As Darwin Group manage the entire process – from concept to completion, we have direct interventions in place to decarbonise our construction approach. REDUCING […]