Emergency Department Extension QEQM Hospital
East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust appointed HMY to design an expansion to their existing Emergency Department (ED) at QEQM Hospital, Margate. The £12M project includes a new ED entrance, reception and waiting area, new adult and children’s treatment areas and staff facilities all built within new extensions. The existing spaces are remodelled to improve rapid assessment and treatment areas and resuscitation bays.
The challenge for the design team and contractor was to construct a two storey extension within an internal courtyard and provide the necessary site logistics area whilst maintaining clinical ED services. This was achieved with enabling works to relocate car parking and diversion of the ambulance access externally.
Detailed phasing plans were established for internal works which identified three distinct areas of work and their associated enabling works. This ensured the Emergency Department continued to function with capacity to meet with the winter pressures as there was no available decant space until new accommodation is built. The team also need to ensure that access to the key supporting departments for patients and staff was always available.
The front extension provided the opportunity of upgrading the public face of the hospital. A new over-sailing roof provides shelter to the new ED entrance, creates a link to the main hospital entrance and external shelter to this exposed site. HMY undertook extensive consultation with staff, senior management and other stakeholders, part of this process was to provide workshops using VR headsets to immerse themselves in new facilities to fully understand the proposals.
The interior design was developed in close consultation with the clinical team and designed to accommodate people living with dementia as well as visual impairment and providing full accessibility. The treatment areas were design with individual bays with glazed sliding doors to improve patient privacy and dignity and have electrically controlled privacy film on the glass, a new product first used on this project.
The project was shortlisted for Better Building Healthcare Awards 2023 Best Interior Design - Refurbishment. The project was also the Winner of the Public Sector Project in the RICS South East Regional Awards 2024, the judges recognising how the team successfully managed the complex operational challenges of a live hospital over a 30 month programme. Meticulous planning, project coordination, exceptional design and excellent delivery on site ensured the uninterrupted delivery of care.
HMY were appointed through the NHS SBS Construction Consultancy Framework and are also architects for a similar expansion at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford completed at the same time.
The QEQM Hospital, Margate, which delivers world-class clinical care facilities and services, has been announced as the Winner of the Public Sector Project in the RICS South East Regional Awards 2024.
