Vistamatic and BetweenGlassBlinds work on new respiratory unit in Oxford

Published: 26-Nov-2021

Vision panels and integral blinds play key role in refurbishment project

Vistamatic and BetweenGlassBlinds (BGB) have provided vision panels and integral blinds for the new respiratory unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Completed by Marcon Construction in just 26 weeks, the Osler Respiratory Unit is the result of the refurbishment of two tired and dated wards on level 5 of the hospital.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the respiratory team had moved several times, before being able to settle into the new 24-bed ward, which has six high-dependency beds and two beds for cystic fibrosis patients.

The privacy vision panels were needed in the doors of side rooms and patient bays on the new ward.

A mixture of 404x404 and 250x800 non-fire-rated, and FD30 fire-rated vision panels were used in the scheme.

The vision panels were required to be operable from both sides, with an easy mode of operation, so a lever handle was chosen as these are chromium plated, easy to clean, and suited for either hand or elbow operation.

BGB’s integral blinds were also specified for both internal screens and external windows.

The screens were a mix of both Tilt and Lift and Tilt Only functions, and had both single and dual-sided operation, dependent on their location.

The external windows were supplied as Tilt & Lift A-rated units.

Helen Disley, deputy matron at the hospital, said: “The dedicated ward will enable us to offer specialist treatment in a purpose-built modern environment with better facilities.

“This is a great step forward for the department because it will improve patient care and provide staff with a more-suitable base for the long-term future.”

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