NHS HEALTHCARE
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust
Harefield Hospital – Thoracic Theatres
In 2002 the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust employed Floyd Slaski Partnership to undertaken a series of feasibility studies on the existing operating theatres in Harefield Hospital. These studies looked in detail at both Thoracic and Cardiac facilities and involved intensive consultation with users, surveys, options appraisal, space planning and production of explanatory scheme drawings.
The Trust decided to proceed with the construction of two new cardiac theatres together with various improvements to staff facilities and changing rooms. Floyd Slaski Partnership was then employed to design and oversee the building contracts and the new theatres were opened the following year.
The feasibility study highlighted problems with the two existing thoracic theatres and in January 2007 the practice was asked to examine options for moving this facility into new theatres within the area occupied by the old cardiac theatres. As this area forms part of the new theatre complex it was clear from the outset that all options suggested had to respect the day to day running of the hospital’s theatre service.
Floyd Slaski Partnership met with users, surgeons, clinicians and suppliers in a series of design team meetings. Prior to the initial meeting the practice realised that the scheme was not just looking at providing simple internal alterations, but had to consider the effect on support services of an increased patient throughput. This meant examining ways of increasing recovery facilities, clinical storage, staff rest areas, waste disposal and both clean and dirty utilities.
By discussing various proposals, listening to suggestions and inspecting existing facilities Floyd Slaski Partnership very quickly built up a good rapport with all those who would be taking an active part in the use of the new theatres and recovery room. By explaining the latest HTM and HBN recommendations for theatre and recovery design the practice was able to show that the theatre complex had to be extended, as there simply was not enough space within the existing footprint to accommodate all the facilities needed.
Due to a variety of reasons the Trust was keen to commence construction work as soon as possible and in autumn 2007 it was agreed that to achieve this the project be split into two separate elements, namely the recovery area shell and the fit out of recovery and theatres themselves. Although the internal plans had not been completed fully, Floyd Slaski Partnership developed them to an extent such that the shell housing the recovery and staff facilities could be built first and, following planning approval, construction work commenced in March 2008. The practice continued to liaise with the users and soon all the room data sheets, detailed designs and schedules were agreed in time for the fitting out contract to be tendered in October 2008.
In the meantime, however, with constant uninterrupted electricity supplies to the hospital under threat, the practice was employed to undertake feasibility studies for the construction of a new substation, generator room and LV switch room. Floyd Slaski Partnership was able to produce a design that annexed the building to the new recovery shell within a very tight and awkward site. The building was completed in late 2008 and the substation, generator and LV room are now all fully operational.
In full consultation with client and users Floyd Slaski Partnership developed a programme for the fit out works that would cause as little disruption to the smooth running of the theatre complex. The job was split into three distinct phases:
Phase 1 – Construct recovery area (5 beds with service pendants and potential for 6 beds) and isolation room together with clean and dirty utility, kitchen, staff room, cleaner’s room, bin stores, on-call room and main corridor breaking through into theatre corridor and existing ITU.
Phase 2 – Strip out old staff room and construct new clinical store.
Phase 3 – Strip out old cardiac theatres and install new theatres complete.
Running through each of these phases is the provision of services. This included major alterations to the existing roof top plant room.
All works have been undertaken with the existing adjacent theatres managing a full workload. The new build ITU and staff room has been handed over and the theatre was completed in July 2010 with operations commencing on 23 August 2010.
