The ProCure21 Award for Best Healthcare Design went to:
Project: Tyne
Client: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
PSCP: Laing O'Rourke
Architect: Medical Architecture
Services Engineers: CAD 21 Ltd
Structural Engineers: WSP
Procured through a P21 contract, the concept of Tyne is based on the client's objective; to offer exemplary healthcare to patients and provide staff with the very best environment and resources to continue delivering excellent service to patients.
Forensic learning disabilities is one of the most-challenging and resource-intensive services in the NHS and exists largely outside the public gaze.
Comprised of replacing and modernising dilapidated facilities, Tyne offers contemporary healthcare, predominately for elderly men with learning disabilities.
Set within a secure and protective environment, users with challenging behaviour can enjoy 'a life like any other' within natural and therapeutic surroundings, enabling staff to work in safety and concentrate on giving the best care possible.
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The longstanding 10-year partnership between the client, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and contractor, Laing O'Rourke, Medical Architecture and CAD 21 Ltd has proven a successful collaboration via a series of healthcare projects.
The P21 framework supported a united approach, enabling the team to tackle problems, seize opportunities and provided them with the clarity, consistency and clear communication to deliver the project on time and to budget.
A number of cost savings made throughout the scheme were re-invested into making improvements to the patient care areas.
At the start of the process a workshop was held with all members of the design team, plus the clinical and maintenance stakeholders to ensure the project aims and objectives could be recorded, reviewed and evaluated. This team approach proved invaluable while designing Tyne, giving all involved a greater insight as to how the scheme would benefit staff and users.
Key features within the building include the installation of Steri-spray showers, reducing the risk of Legionella infection; personalised bedroom doors that help to enhance memory; improved wardrobe layouts for use in forensic situations where coat hangers are not permitted, a full range of non-intrusive and anti-ligature and low energy services designed by CAD 21 Ltd; an AEL door lock control system; and a number of integrated artworks by local artist, Dan Savage.
The BBH Awards judges said: "Forensic medicine is a really difficult area to work in and they have put a lot of work in and tried to bring the outside inside.
"These are very secure units because they have to be, but they have not used fencing and have instead used the building as the boundary and that is a really good move.
"It is very robust, but very good and little touches like the curves in the tables in the bedrooms are very nice.
"There is also a very usable garden that can mature over time."
