Wolfson Centre is ‘home in a hospital’

Published: 9-Apr-2014

Purpose-designed unit provides 21st-century care for Cystic Fibrosis patients

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients will be moving into a new purpose-designed centre at Nottingham City Hospital later this month.

The new 16-bed Wolfson Centre will serve more than 250 CF patients from across Nottinghamshire and the surrounding counties, almost doubling the number of patients that can be accommodated.

Designed in close collaboration with patients, families and clinicians, the new facility will meet the unique and complex needs of this particular patient group with the aim of providing a ‘home in a hospital’.

The building will set a new standard in CF care, leading the way in clinical management, transforming the patient experience, and providing patients with the consistently high quality of care that they require.

Dr Jane Dewar, CF consultant at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This new unit will completely transform the treatment of CF patients. Instead of them having to wait for side rooms in the hospital to be available, they will now be able to come into the new unit as soon as their condition starts to worsen and all the services they require will be on hand, all in one building.”

P+HS Architects worked closely with the trust, Nottingham Hospitals Charity, and Interserve Construction in order to develop an existing car parking site to provide the new, two-storey sustainable building.

Facilities include outpatient consulting rooms, physiotherapy treatment rooms, exercise pods and gym space looking out onto a private landscaped courtyard with outdoor exercise equipment. There is also a large open-plan staff office with associated facilities, while 16 ‘live-in’ bedrooms with shower and ensuite facilities are located on the first floor along with private kitchen area and relaxation areas. Rooms have video links and intercom so that patients can communicate without the risk of cross infection.

The whole facility is designed to provide a welcoming non-clinical environment with a light and open feel, modern furnishings and extensive use of bright colour.