A patient-centred refurbishment for cancer care
Edinburgh Haematology Centre
Patient wellbeing has been positively impacted at every intervention through a design that realises a compassionate and therapeutic Centre, which supports healing and recovery.
The background
The refurbishment of Edinburgh’s Haematology Centre combines in and out-patient areas into one integrated and significantly improved unit. The aim was to realise the dream of a donor; to create world class facilities that improve the experience and wellbeing of patients and staff to enable a significant transformation in treatment service for blood cancer patients.
The Centre is part of a phased series of projects to improve cancer care at the Western General Hospital. It was created from the existing haematology ward on level 3 and a repurposed level 2 floor space, extending the life of a four-storey 1950s brick-faced concrete building by restrained external extension and upgrading.
Emphasis was placed on creating a calm and comforting environment for patients.
The design approach
The refurbishment included internal alterations to create single en-suite bedrooms to replace the current multi-occupant rooms. A rooftop extension provides new meeting and office spaces while the floor immediately below the wards is converted from its former use as laboratories to form new multi chair and single room treatment areas for day patients.
A collaborative working group with patient and staff representatives brought a critical perspective to the Centre’s design, considering patient treatment, recovery and wellbeing and the staff’s ability to support throughout. Restful colour tones are used to promote the healing process. Glazed screens enable smaller patient zones with neighbouring seats to encourage social interaction and the commissioning of local artists to create featured artwork allows patients and staff to be 'absorbed in artwork' instead of purely medical messaging.
The distinct landscape of the Centre’s city views create a sense of light and calm throughout. Working around constraints of the existing building including below standard ceiling heights, design features include an abstract graphic of the Forth Bridges which became a central feature unifying the space throughout, and a unique ceiling light to replicate sunlight in an otherwise dark treatment area.
Being diagnosed with a serious illness is a traumatic experience so we wanted to create an environment that was warm and comforting and would help reduce some of that anxiety and stress. The end result is truly beautiful and the difference in experience for patients now and in the future will be transformational.
Director of Edinburgh and Lothian Health Foundation
A dark corridor is transformed into a bright communal area, with glazed curtain walling allowing patients and family members expansive views towards the city centre and Pentland Hills beyond, with the addition of a glazed landscape artwork. Skirting and ceiling level edge lighting softens harsh clinical lighting.
Solar glass has removed window glare and with a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system installed. Along with the thermal insulation of existing walls, patient comfort has been prioritised.
To integrate the treatment space, in-patient single suite bedrooms replace multi-patient bedrooms, with new multi-chair and single room treatment areas provided for day patients. To improve the comfort of patients whose treatment demands long periods of sitting, a variety of armchair types were selected to suit different needs. Fixed seating systems were deliberately avoided to allow flexibility in their arrangement.
A more efficient use of the ‘hot’ treatment spaces has been created by providing a separate ‘cool’ waiting area, where patients may recover and await results in a separate and more relaxed setting. This flexibility ensures that the patient’s individual needs are considered.
The changes have really made a huge difference. Care is much more than treatments and medicines. Being able to provide privacy and a calming environment helps to relax patients and having more space and cutting-edge equipment helps us to do our job even better
Senior Charge Nurse of Haematology Day Treatment
The impact
The new space has facilitated opportunities for service redesign, including a pilot for outpatient stem cell transplant which is a major development in care. The precision of material choices and intricacies of design echo the unit’s ethos of precise and expert patient care.
The refurbishment has brought facilities up to a more compliant standard, has improved the patient experience and allowed for a more efficient staff workflow.
It really doesn't feel like going into a hospital anymore.
Patient
Credits
Photography
Paul Zanre
