The new Urgent and Emergency Care Department (UECD) at Chesterfield Royal Hospital replaces an aging, over-capacity Emergency Department dating from the 1980s. Its main purpose is to relieve pressure on the adjacent hospital by reducing the overall number of inpatient admissions. To enable this, a senior clinician at the new front door ‘navigates’ patients to the most appropriate care setting, such as the pharmacy, GPs, paediatrics, mental health, ‘minors’, ‘majors’, or the resuscitation suite for critically ill patients. This model of care also benefits patients, as it ensures they are seen by a clinician as efficiently as possible.
The building itself is arranged over two storeys: patient services on the ground floor, and staff and administration areas on the level above. Care was taken to maximise natural light to improve the experience of patients, staff and visitors; while colour-coded wall graphics and wayfinding help ensure that navigation around the building is straightforward and intuitive.
Competed in just 20 months, the building was delivered for a modest budget of around £4200/sq.m, which was originally intended for an internal refurbishment but has now been used to fund a compact, efficient, and state-of-the-art new healthcare facility.
