refurbishments
case study
BRINGING A HEALTH CENTRE UP TO DATE Northbrook Health Centre, in Solihull, West Midlands, is a 1980s building and accommodates two doctors’ practices as well as additional PCT community service users. Commercial fitout firm, Eos Interiors was commissioned to refurbish the building, bringing it up to date and ensuring infection prevention and CQC compliance, as well as addressing shortfalls in disabled access and building regulations compliance. Many aspects of the building services and building fabric
were outdated and at the end of their useful life. Gas-fired boilers and single-glazed metal windows were incredibly inefficient and made the building expensive to run. The refurbishment company carried out a feasibility study on alternative energy sources, resulting in the installation of a state-of-the art air sourced heat pump solution which provides heat in the winter as well as cooling in the summer, giving an estimated energy saving of 25%. In addition, low energy fluorescent lighting and new double glazed PVCu windows provided better security and improved the thermal insulation. Every room was designed in consultation with the infection
prevention team, with finishes chosen for ease of cleaning, aesthetics and longevity. This has resulted in hard-wearing, practical spaces that deliver clinical excellence without detracting from the underlying need to provide a welcoming and positive experience for patients. For example, carpets were replaced by easy-to-clean and durable vinyl flooring and curtains around couches were replaced with rigid polycarbonate screens. New, innovative full-
height storage walls make the most of the existing room footprints and deliver safe, lockable storage solutions, with no areas on top to gather dust. Roller racking was also installed for patient records to provide maximum storage for the space available and keep them secure. Every aspect of the
building services, including CCTV, door access, fire and intruder alarms, was updated to deliver the very latest technology throughout the building. The building was
originally dark and unwelcoming, with natural
brick walls and uncoordinated signage that was not as clear as it could be. The team plastered and painted the walls, creating a colour scheme that not only helped brighten the centre and make it more welcoming, but also helped patients find their way. A palette of three greens was chosen, with one for each of the zones within the building. This colour scheme was extended to treatment rooms and signage, including external signage, so that patients could more easily find their way to appointments. The signage itself was also made simpler and clearer. All of the improvements made to the fabric of the building
ensure that the refurbishment addresses building control and Disability Discrimination Act regulations. The overall result is a modern, energy-efficient space that meets current CQC, HTM and HBN guidelines and has added to the value of the building. The improvements were scheduled and communicated so
the practice could offer an uninterrupted and safe service to patients while the surgery remained fully functional, and the work was done to a fixed cost, with no hidden extras. Feedback from the PCT and building users has been
supportive. “The Northbrook scheme has raised the bar for healthcare design melding the latest environmental management technologies with refreshed best clinical practice,” said head of estates, Richard Whitehouse. “The transformation of the building and its refreshed focus on patients will significantly improve local healthcare delivery.”
40 february 2013
management
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