Hospital’s single-room design evaluated

Opponents, meanwhile, cite a risk of patients and staff feeling ‘isolated’, and a greater challenge for nursing staff in monitoring the condition and well-being of patients housed in single rooms than in, say, six or 10-bedded bays. In an interesting joint presentation at October’s Healthcare Estates 2014 conference, architect, Francesca Simoni, associate at Stantec, spoke about the design process, and Professor Jill Maben, of King’s College London, described a recent evaluation project that examined the impact of all single-bedded accommodation on patients and staff, and the views of both ‘parties’ on the ‘pros’ and the ‘cons’, at England’s first 100 per cent single-bedded acute NHS hospital – The Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury, Kent. HEJ editor, Jonathan Baillie, reports.

Beginning an interesting ‘doubledhanded’ presentation, Francesca Simoni of  Stantec (which designed the Tunbridge Wells Hospital), explained that the 512-beded PFI-funded healthcare facility near Tunbridge Wells, was, on the opening of all its services in autumn 2011, England’s first 100 per cent single-bedded acute NHS hospital. The facility replaced two ageing, and, in places, dilapidated local hospitals, the Kent & Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells, and the part-Victorian-built Pembury Hospital located a mile and a half from the town centre. Nearly all the buildings that made up the latter hospital were demolished to make way for the new facility. 

The new 512 single-bedded hospital is equipped with eight standard and two obstetric theatres, has 37 outpatient rooms, and a floor area of approximately 65,000 m².