EQUINE DIAGNOSTICS, SURGICAL & CRITICAL CARE

Construction of a new Equine Diagnostics, Surgical and Critical Care Unit at Easter Bush Campus

McLaughlin & Harvey constructed a new Equine Diagnostics, Surgical & Critical Care Unit (EDSCCU) at the Easter Bush Campus and upgraded the existing Equine Hospital.

Works included the construction of a two-storey steel frame building with a mix of rain screen cladding, brickwork, and glazing. We were also responsible for refurbishing the ICU rooms within the existing equine hospital.

The new building contains a range of new and refurbished spaces, including first-class clinical and teaching facilities, a diagnostics and emergency triage area, a support hub, and two state-of-the-art operating theatres.

The building also includes a critical care unit with an on-site laboratory.

The building contains a range of newly built and refurbished spaces that include:

• Clinical Facilities – to meet both UK and American legislation for the provision of first-class clinical and teaching facilities
• Diagnostics and Emergency Triage Area – for evaluating and triaging emergency cases
• Surgery – two state-of-the-art theatres for general anaesthesia and a dedicated standing surgery suite
• Critical Care Unit – a dedicated unit of 6 boxes for adult horses and neonatal foals which require intensive and/or peri-operative care, with 24-hour video monitoring and an onsite laboratory in a refurbished area of the Large Animal Hospital
• Support Hub – an area to counsel and support clients; provide facilities for clinicians and nurses to plan treatments, deliver on-site teaching in surgery, critical care and anaesthesia, incorporating a surgery viewing and education area for clients and students and encompassing office and teaching facilities

We were aware of how sensitive horses are to disturbance, and this was minimised by adopting low-noise, low-vibration techniques, such as silenced equipment. The equine hospital was in full operation throughout the year, and we had to ensure that its services were maintained. This involved careful planning and coordination with the university when diverting water and gas mains, electricity, and data cables on the east side of the hospital.