Caption - Left to right: Alaina Grant, Clinical Specialist for PET CT, Colin Lee, Principle Scientist, Rebecca Swaine, Imagine Assistant
Seddon has completed a programme of specialist enabling works at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s Wirral site, paving the way for the installation of the UK’s first Siemens Healthineers Biograph Trinion PET-CT scanner.
The contractor, working in collaboration with Rob Swift and the PropCare Services team delivered a fully prepared clinical environment ahead of installation by Siemens’ specialist teams, ensuring the new scanner could be fitted without additional construction or disruption to services.
These works represented a critical phase in the replacement of the centre’s existing scanners, supporting the introduction of advanced imaging technology designed to significantly reduce patient scan times and increase diagnostic capacity across the region.
Precision upgrades in a live healthcare environment
Seddon completed a range of mechanical, electrical and structural upgrades, including a significant ventilation system enhancement designed to provide the precise environmental conditions required for advanced imaging equipment.
Ventilation infrastructure was introduced at multiple locations within the scanning suite, requiring drilling through a ceiling structure of approximately 300mm alongside carefully coordinated alterations to bulkheads and wall layouts.
The project was completed within a fully operational cancer care centre, with patients receiving care in adjacent areas throughout the programme. To minimise disruption, particularly noisy activities such as drilling were scheduled for weekends, with the building handed back to clinical staff during the week following deep cleaning and inspection. The project team worked closely with hospital staff and cleaning teams to ensure maintenance of strict hygiene standards.
Designing for performance, safety and patient experience
Alongside infrastructure upgrades, Seddon undertook refurbishment works within patient waiting areas, incorporating medical-grade finishes and equipment designed to meet exacting healthcare standards.
Anti-static vinyl flooring was installed to protect sensitive imaging technology from electrostatic discharge, while lead-lined walls and doors were maintained to preserve radiation shielding. New storage, kitchen and clinical support areas were sourced from approved manufacturers to meet infection prevention and equipment safety requirements.
The scheme required precise coordination to ensure elements such as ceiling grids and mechanical installations aligned exactly with the incoming scanner, avoiding delays during installation and commissioning.
Jake Dowling, Building Services Manager at Seddon, said: “Delivering construction works within a live cancer treatment environment requires the very highest levels of planning, precision and communication. Every decision has to balance clinical safety, patient experience and technical precision alongside programme delivery.
“Our focus was on creating the right conditions for the new scanner while ensuring patients and clinical teams experienced as little disruption as possible. This meant careful sequencing of works around treatment schedules, managing noise and hygiene risks in real time, and designing solutions that allowed Siemens to complete their installation without delay.
“Advanced medical technology places increasing demands on infrastructure, and contractors must be prepared to work to exacting mechanical, electrical and spatial standards to support critical upgrades like this, helping to support the care of [thousands] of patients across the North West.”
Diana Almeida, Clinical Lead for PET-CT at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said: “The new Trinion PET-CT scanner will further enhance The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s imaging capabilities, providing even more accurate and detailed images. Demand for PET-CT has significantly increased in recent years so we are delighted that the new scanner will reduce scan time considerably, increasing daily scan capacity and greatly improving patient experience.”
Dr Ruth Brown, Consultant Radiologist and PET-CT ARSAC licence holder at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, added: “The replacement of the Wirral PET-CT will allow The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to continue to provide a key diagnostic service for both oncologic and non-oncologic assessments. As this new installation can acquire scans faster without compromising on image quality, we will be helping facilitate timely diagnostic scans in the region both for both inpatients and the outpatients we serve.”
Seddon was awarded the project directly through the RISE Framework.