Client: County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

The scheme commenced when the Trust commissioned the healthcare team as healthcare planners to review and redesign the existing A&E, in order to improve the patient and staff experience, patient and staff flows, improving efficiency, reducing the length of stay and developing a new model of care.

In a focused 4-day workshop with the clinical, management and estate teams, the current processes and pathways were reviewed, future pathways and flows determined, data for emergency admissions analysed and activity benchmarked with other providers nationally. An evidence-based outline design and phasing plan were delivered for the new department. Interactive modelling tools using the Trust data were some of the tools utilised to enable the clinical functional content of the new ED to be developed, along with a 3D simulation model to evidence how the new department would work.

The 4500m² scheme was the winning bid, designed under P21+ as an extension to the existing hospital, allowing for the uninterrupted delivery of clinical services during the construction phase and the smooth transition of the facility upon completion of the new building. The scheme was unanimously approved by the councillors at Durham County Council Committee.

Imagery: Courtesy of DLA FreemanWhite