Bennett Freehill were lead consultants on the refurbishment of the existing mortuary and stores accommodation to provide a new Accident and Emergency Department at Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn. The project involved extensive internal remodelling of an existing building and replacement and upgrading of mechanical and electrical services to suit the new department. The department was designed in accordance with the relevant Health Building Notes and Health Technical Memorandum.

The area available was 100sqm short of that required under HBN 22 (A& E Departments). Therefore imaginative solutions had to be created so that all required accommodation could be provided. This was generally achieved by doubling up uses for various rooms (i.e. children’s examination cubicles and fracture clinic), and by designing an ‘open plan’ solution.

Newly completed A&E departments were visited with the consultant to check sizes of accommodation, furniture etc and feedback was gathered from staff in these departments. Information gathered from these visits was taken into consideration in the detailed design. Room layout sheets were provided to demonstrate full integration of services, equipment and furniture.

Facilities include: Creation of new Accident & Emergency Department; Design process involved extremely high level of consultation with users; Planned with inviting waiting area to avoid high patient stress levels; Long staff base to ensure full visibility of all cubicles; Sub waiting areas to reduce crowds in main waiting area; 3-bed resuscitation unit; 6 minor injuries cubicles; 15-bed unit in total; Radiography section with full X ray facilities.

Photos courtesy of Hamilton Architects