New Ward Block | The Manser Practice Architects + Designers

Chesterfield Royal Hospital required three 32-bed acute wards to be ready for their 2010 winter bed pressures to supplement the existing beds that were already at full capacity. Key required outcomes for the project were improved quality of patient care; improved working conditions for staff; and delivery of the project on time and on budget. 

The plan breaks away from the traditional linear ward, providing 2 efficient clusters of patient rooms, each around a nurse base, resulting in a T-shaped plan where the support rooms are included. This rationalised plan reduces staff travel times, increases natural light levels and allows the maximum observation of patients by staff through double glazed internal windows.  This layout has released more time for staff to care for patients and also added to patient wellbeing as they can see staff in their beds whilst being surrounded by artwork integrated into the fabric of the building.

The requirement for the facility to be operational before winter 2010 was reflected in the speed of the design and delivery process, with the design team appointed in November 2008 and the project completed as planned in August 2010. Through a series of interactive staff workshops and sensible value engineering, the client’s original business case budget of £10.3 million (£2,600 per m2) was reduced to £7.5 million (£1893 per m2), allowing £2.8 million to be spent upgrading other areas of the hospital.