Stannah Lifts Case Studies
Carrington House Surgery
Stannah Lifts’ new-generation vertical platform lift, the Midilift XLplus, is helping to improve health and wellbeing at Carrington House Surgery in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
Responding to a need
Located close to the town centre, this modern, purpose-built NHS medical practice has provided an invaluable health service to the local community for over fifteen years. Four GPs, a Practice Manager and ancillary staff deliver multi-disciplinary care to people of all ages.
“Stairs may be great exercise but, for various reasons, not everyone – staff included – can always use them, so the provision of the Midilift XLplus means we offer an even better health service and working environment to everyone who sets foot inside the surgery. It is totally in keeping with our contemporary, dedicated facility and it is hard to imagine the working day without its assistance.”
Installed in early 2010, this Midilift XLplus is a response to a growing population and Government directives requiring more services to be offered in the primary care sector. In short, the surgery had to expand. The obvious solution was to convert the first-floor administration offices into a suite of consulting rooms, with lift access for all people with restricted mobility, from pushchair-pushers to wheelchair-users.
Practice GP, Doctor James Burton, liaised with the local council’s Buildings Control Department about exactly what was expected. He sourced the best product for the job based on a criterion of first class British design and a combination of style and performance backed by cost-effective quality.
Delivering the Stannah difference
A winning formula
On securing the tender, the Stannah project management team – spearheaded by Access Technical Sales Engineer, Rob Sandland, and Surveyor, Mark Saddington – negotiated a complete, individual in-house solution within surgery financial deadlines.
Only nominal building work was required. The Midilift XLplus is supplied ready for action in its own structure-supported shaft, and no structural ceiling access was necessary as the first floor is ranged around a galleried landing open to the ground floor. With virtually no inconvenience to the practice’s daily routine, a local builder (and patient of the surgery) sited the required 70mm footprint for the lift base and removed a portion of the glass screen on the landing perimeter, leaving the scene clear for the Stannah installation team to erect and secure the platform lift and make good its surroundings.
Post-installation fine-tuning
In common with all Stannah lift products, the Midilift XLplus is much more than a one-size/style-fits-all platform lift as it can be customised to meet the client’s/premises’ specifications.
In this case, several teething problems were resolved to the client’s satisfaction. These included adapting the top of the lift to make it more aesthetically acceptable from the open first floor landing; and ensuring that the lift’s operational features could be easily navigated by staff and patients alike.
“The Midilift XLplus is a great asset. It fits in well with the building and we receive lots of positive comments. We had to work within strict deadlines for financial reasons. Stannah brought the project to completion within all parameters and delivered a top quality product on time and within budget.”
Mobilising access for all
Since handover of the Midilift XLplus, it has “lived up to expectations; it performs well and complements our contemporary, new-look surgery”, comments Dr James Burton.
Glazed on three sides, the lift car features two half-height mirrors to the righthand side wall, ranged either side of the control panel. Enclosed in a glass shaft, it offers scenic and convenient travel between the spacious, ground floor reception area and the new first-floor consulting rooms.
By streamlining the movement of all mobility compromised individuals between the two floors, the lift also helps the practice owners meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.
Cost-cutting problem solving
The new generation Midilift XLplus benefits everyone involved. Supplied in a structure-supported enclosure for swift, adaptable, cost-effective installation, it is the ideal solution for buildings where it is not necessary, practical or possible to install a conventional passenger lift. Apart from a maximum travel speed of 0.15 m/s, it performs as a fully fledged Stannah passenger lift.
Lift users and budget-conscious, space-strapped owners appreciate the advanced range of features such as automatic, ‘one-touch’ pushbutton controls for ease of operation; an enclosed car for an enhanced sense of safety; two car styles for a greater choice of finishes, and a new traction drive system for a smooth, quiet ride with an increased travel to 12m for loads up to 400kg.