A new, modern urgent and emergency care centre for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust has opened its doors.
In 2021, the trust expected a significant increase in local demand for emergency care as a result of a change in catchment area associated with the opening of the nearby Midland Metropolitan Hospital (MMH).
This led to a need to increase capacity and to the design of a new, state-of-the-art, two-storey new-build extension adjacent to the existing emergency department.
This is the most-substantial investment our trust has ever seen and we cannot wait to start delivering our services from this much-improved environment
The designs, drawn up by BDP Architects, also included the refurbishment of the existing department to provide accommodation which supports an integrated model of emergency, urgent, and ambulatory care.
Procured through the ProCure22 Framework, the newly-built £40m facility provides the trust with 4,864sq m of additional clinical space.
The building includes an urgent treatment centre, a paediatric assessment unit, an acute medical unit, and a medical ambulatory unit.
The two-storey, new-build extension will help the trust cope with increased demand for services following a change in catchment area
Various specialist facilities are located throughout, such as an isolation room for infectious patients, bariatric provision, and digital X-ray rooms.
And all areas have been designed to enhance clinical staff efficiency, provide improved quality of care, improved patient experience, and a superior, comfortable and effective working environment.
Max Martin, architect principal at BDP, said: “Good healthcare design is about creating spaces that are responsive and flexible to help the brilliant NHS teams save lives.
“For Walsall Manor we responded quickly to the clinical requirements and we look forward to seeing the positive impact that this new emergency department will have on the staff and the community.”
Good healthcare design is about creating spaces that are responsive and flexible to help the brilliant NHS teams save lives
Simon Butler, managing director for building central at contractor, Tilbury Douglas, added: “It is great to see the completion of the new high-quality, modern development that will assist Walsall Healthcare in improving the patient experience and allowing for greater flexibility for the future.”
And Will Roberts, director of operations and deputy chief operating officer at the trust, told BBH: “All of us who have been involved in this massive project have been counting down the months, weeks, and now days until we can finally move into this fantastic new environment.
“This is the most-substantial investment our trust has ever seen and we cannot wait to start delivering our services from this much-improved environment that will help us to provide the first-class healthcare provision that our patients and families deserve.”
Specialist facilities include isolation rooms, bariatric rooms, and digital X-ray units
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- Companies:
- Building Design Partnership BDP
- Walsall Healthcare NHSFT
