The background

 

Established in 1973, the University Hospital 12 de Octobre in Madrid is a cornerstone of Spanish healthcare system. Throughout its history, the hospital has achieved significant milestones, including Spain's first artificial heart implant in 1996.

With over 1 million consultations and 40 000 admissions a year, the hospital consistently ranks among the top five in Spain and the top 100 worldwide.

The challenge

Despite its respected status, the hospital faced challenges with ageing infrastructure, prompting the need to build a modern, sustainable and efficient healthcare environment.

In response, the government of Madrid and the hospital's management undertook the project of constructing and equipping a new technical and hospitalisation block, replacing the old Residencia General and Mother and Child Hospital facilities. The new building will house paediatric and maternity emergency services, surgery, diagnostic imaging, hospitalisation and a mother and child wing. 

This endeavour aimed to address issues of obsolescence, dysfunctionality and an inability to comply with current regulations, all while ensuring uninterrupted in-person coverage for patients during construction. With an assigned population of 444 557 residents from the districts of Carabanchel, Usera and Villaverde, the urgency was heightened due to strict deadlines imposed by the EU funds allocated for addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This goal was successfully accomplished with the construction works starting in late summer 2021 and reaching completion by the end of 2023.

@Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
@Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
@Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre

The action

The project's design prioritises accessibility, functionality, flexibility and integration, facilitating smooth connections with existing buildings. Additionally, it enables adaptability during health crisis situations, as spaces can be expanded or modified as needed.

Throughout this journey, the project benefited from the expertise of JASPERS to help it access EU funds more quickly. Our experts have helped in evaluating the project's compliance with regulations, risk assessment, economic viability and financing aspects as well as climate considerations, contributing to its overall success.

JASPERS has supported the beneficiary in the development of the main analyses conducted for the project in line with the standards and main principles required by the EU funds. The cost-benefit analysis demonstrated the project's potential to generate substantial social benefits, particularly in reducing the mortality rate.

The results

The hospital expansion features 741 rooms, accommodating up to 1315 beds, including 114 intensive care unit (ICU) beds. The contribution of the European Union Cohesion Policy funds to the project is €226 million. The project enhancements focus on the following areas:

  1. Innovative technology: The newly constructed facilities incorporate state-of-the-art equipment and modern infrastructure, seamlessly integrating advanced medical technologies. From diagnostic tools to treatment methodologies, every aspect of patient care benefits from the latest innovations. This infusion of technology not only improves medical treatments but also motivates and enhances the qualifications of professional staff.
  2. Patient care and community health: Central to the hospital's mission is providing high-quality, patient-centred care, including for complex cases. Patients will benefit from reinforced services in treatments such as oncology.
  3. Sustainability and environmental impact: Prioritising green aspects, the project improves energy efficiency, setting up renewable energy sources and energy-efficient buildings. Green spaces like terraces and therapeutic gardens enhance patient well-being and contribute to overall sustainability. The new building significantly reduces the hospital's carbon footprint, saving 71.86 kg of CO2 emissions per m2 a year.
  4. Enhanced organisational aspects: Taking advantage of the changes required by the new construction, the hospital applies a new strategy that seeks continuous improvement and the coordination and formation of multidisciplinary teams.
  5. Incorporation of lessons learnt from COVID-19: Drawing from the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic, the new hospital’s layout facilitates changes to its space utilisation, which enhances health crisis situation preparedness and demonstrates a forward-thinking approach.