RESPIRATORY WARD & INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
Newham Hospital is working to improve its infrastructure and equipment over the next year to provide more and better services for patients.
Client
Barts Health NHS Trust
Timeframe
20 months approx on site
Size/Area
3945m2
Project Completed
Opened May 2024
Even better patient care
Newham Hospital is working to improve its infrastructure and equipment to provide more and better services for patients. A big part of this investment is a brand-new building that houses a 26-bed respiratory ward and a 14-bed state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The former will give the hospital flexibility so they can adapt to and meet the needs of the local population. The latter is purpose-built to enable staff to provide a better level of care for the most critically-ill patients.
Located on the first floor, the purpose-built ICU, which boasts high-spec equipment, is one of the best in north east London. The new respiratory ward is located on the ground floor. A 26-bedded ward, it has improved spaces for patients and staff, and large amounts of natural light.
Staff and patients benefit significantly from a good built environment, therefore carefully designing a fully-compliant space has been essential. All healthcare details from infection prevention and control technology to hot and cold zoning and natural daylight have been carefully considered and discussed in partnership with hospital clinicians.
āIām thrilled to see these new investments in our hospital infrastructure. They will help us deliver our vision and provide better care to the people of Newham and north east London.ā
Simon Ashton, Chief Executive of Newham Hospital
THE CHALLENGE
A busy hospital environment catering to the people of Newham Borough and beyond, keeping disruption to a minimum during the construction phases, including traffic to and from the location of the new building, was critical.
A collaborative approach to healthcare design
Health Spaces worked closely with the hospital’s clinical teams to understand the bespoke requirements for the new healthcare space. Alongside stakeholder interviews and design workshops, healthcare design specialists worked with the wider hospital teams to ensure the space would also deliver the long-term estate infrastructure required at the site.
The solution proposed was a two-storey building, linked to the main hospital, providing a 14-bed ICU on the first floor, and a 26-bed ward and administration offices on the ground floor. This additional space would help provide a better service and experience for patients and staff.
Utilising Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
A new two-storey extension with a ward, office accommodation and ICU, utilising Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
Utilising Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) ensured modular bays could be pre-constructed off-site away from the hospital, and later delivered to the hospital using ‘just in time’ methods. This kept disruption to theĀ hospitalās operations to a minimum as well as limiting the number of tradespeople to site.
Even better spaces for patients and staff
“It’s been great to work with and co-design the space with Health Spaces” – Elizabeth Abraham, Matron, Barts Health NHS Trust
Elizabeth explains what the new hospital build means for patients and staff, as well as how clinicians were involved in the co-design process with healthcare design teams.
āA focus on good design, a healthy environment – both for the patient and, importantly, the staff.”
Dr James Napier, ICU Consultant, Newham Hospital
Delivering a state-of-the-art healthcare space
Ā November 2022 saw the arrival of the first modular bays. Modules arrived by lorry through the night and were lifted into position by crane. With the necessary traffic management in place, the modular bays were safely installed whilst at the same time minimising disruption for patients and staff.
In December 2022 the remaining pre-constructed modular units were all delivered to site. The 81st and last bay was installed just before Christmas. In January 2023, the linkway modular bays were installed, marking the completion of installation. From January 2023, a programme of internal fit-out works commenced at paceĀ
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Ground breaking ceremony
We were delighted to join staff from Newham Hospital and the London Borough of Newham in an official āground-breakingā ceremony in the autumn of 2022.
Hosted by Simon Ashton, Chief Executive, it was fantastic to celebrate the commencement of the construction programme at site – the first steps to creating the hospitalās new intensive care unit and ward.
Stakeholder engagement
We had the pleasure of showing Stephen Timms, Labour MP for East Ham, The Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, chair in common for Barts Health NHS Trust and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Simon Ashton, Chief Executive of Newham Hospital, around the new hospital build at the end of March 2023.
Watch our video opposite for details of our stakeholder engagement sessions.
First patients
Spring 2024 marked an exciting milestone for Health Spaces and the team at Barts Health NHS Trust. Following months of clinical commissioning and training for the staff, the two new wards ā a 14-bedded intensive care unit (ICU) and a 26-bedded respiratory ward – were opened to patients.
Combined, the new hospital wards add 10% to the hospitalās footprint and provide the flexibility needed to adapt to and meet the needs of the local, growing population, improve patient care and give patients and staff a better experience.
Watch the video opposite to see the journey – from design to delivery.
One of the best ICUs in north east London
Located on the first floor, the purpose-built ICU, which boasts high-spec equipment and has large amounts of natural light, is one of the best in north east London. Named Gallions Reach, it contains six single-occupancy side rooms and two four-bedded bays, as well as two nursesā stations, offices and staff facilities. It also contains features such as privacy windows between patient beds and a bespoke family room, providing a better experience for loved ones and visitors, as well as patients.
The new respiratory ward, Upton Park, is located on the ground floor. A 26-bedded ward, itās got improved spaces for patients and staff, large amounts of natural light and soon to be installed artwork, selected in collaboration with patients and staff.
Read more
- For more information about the investment at Newham Hospital, visit Barts Health NHS Trust.
- First patients arrive: State-of-the-art intensive care unit opens at Newham Hospital
- BBC News: How to move an intensive care unit
- Official ribbon cutting: Local MPs open brand new wards at Newham Hospital
The 19th September marked the official opening of a state-of-the-art intensive care unit and respiratory ward at Newham Hospital.
Among those who came to celebrate included local MPs Uma Kumaran and James Asser, along with our patient representatives, councillors, colleagues from across our Trust, and artist Erin Hughes who was commissioned to create artwork for the spaces.
Find out moreThe names for the new wards ā Gallions Reach and Upton Park ā were chosen in collaboration with the public.