EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT : DURHAM
The legibility of the facades from the public car-park assists in wayfinding reducing anxiety to those attending the department
On approach to the main hospital site, the main walk-in entrance to the new Emergency Department is legible reflecting the ‘Single Front door’ model of care agreed by the clinical teams for the new department
At night the lit double storey glazing of the lobby will guide people towards the entrance
Ambulances will deliver patients to the new department via a dedicated route onto the hospital grounds to a stretcher entrance away from the public walk-in entrance
Sectors : Healthcare
Client : County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
The scheme commenced when the Trust commissioned us as healthcare planners to review and redesign the existing A&E, in order to improve the patient and staff experience, patient and staff flows, improving efficiency, reducing length of stay and developing a new model of care.
In a focused 4-day workshop with the clinical, management and estate teams, the current processes and pathways were reviewed, future pathways and flows determined, data for emergency admissions analysed and activity benchmarked with other providers nationally. An evidence based outline design and phasing plan were delivered for the new department. Interactive modelling tools using the Trust data were were some of the tools utilised to enable the clinical functional content of the new ED to be developed, along with a 3D simulation model to evidence how the new department would work.
The 4500m² scheme was the winning bid, designed under P21+ as an extension to the existing hospital, allowing for the uninterrupted delivery of clinical services during the construction phase and the smooth transition of the facility upon completion of the new building. The scheme was unanimously approved by the councillors at Durham County Council Committee in January 2017 and is due to progress through detail design and be constructed for September 2019.
Services :
Healthcare Planning
Architecture
Principal Designer
Interior Design
Landscape Design