Guy's and St Thomas' Cancer Ward
London, UK
project overview
Supporting teenage patients, with care and dignity
We have relocated three existing cancer wards in Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital and in doing so created a new, specialist Cancer Unit.
The health and wellbeing of patients was paramount to the success of this project. Our interior designers and architects worked together to create the most comfortable space possible so that patients could take the time they needed to recover in a safe and welcoming environment. With ‘bedsit’ type patient rooms, social spaces and a kitchen, we have created a ‘home away from home’, with supportive spaces for friends, families and peers.
We have purposefully chosen materials and a colour palette that promotes patient wellbeing and as part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ wellbeing strategy, we selected and installed art within the scheme, in order to deliver improved healthcare outcomes.
design concept
Creating a home away from home
The original opportunity to develop a specialist unit was delayed, so patients were being supported by an outpatient psycho-social support service or being accommodated within adult wards at hospital sites across London. In addition to this, there were no other specialist care providers in South London that would care for teenagers over the age of 19. And without a dedicated unit, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust was at risk of losing its status as a Designated Cancer Centre for Teenage and Young Adults.
It is now NHS Policy that Teenagers and Young Adults with cancer receive all their treatment within an age-appropriate environment, separate from children and older adults. The mixing of young and adult patients is also not appropriate under NICE guidelines. Yet within this unit, there needed to be spaces for patients to help one another, as it has been scientifically recognised(1) that peer-support is essential for resilience, recovery and beyond.
The layout was designed to make the space feel less isolated and consists of four distinct elements:
- Five individual patient rooms, three designed as ‘bedsits’ with a couch for a relative or friend to sleep on, for longer-stay patients.
- An ambulatory out-patient area for day-case treatment, with the benefit of all treatments being in the same environment with the same medical staff.
- Social spaces and kitchen.
- Two consultation rooms where additional support can be provided.
The unit was developed with patients and incorporated their ideas and has led to a wide-ranging interiors which reflects the natural world, science and gaming”
Patricia Wilkie
Patient's Choice judge, Building Better Healthcare Awards 2022design methods
Using patient experience to inform our design
Working with the Teenage Cancer Trust, we used their experience of building specialist units across the UK to inform our design of this high-specification unit. We also consulted with past and existing patients and their families throughout the design process, so we could truly understand what non-medical amenities were the most desirable to them.
interior design
Fostering a calm and nurturing space
benefits
Innovative, flexible design to improve patient care
In creating this specialist care unit sickle cell services have now been merged with other cancer treatment services, which has in turn improved patient care and increased productivity. Larger facilities mean that families can stay overnight which wasn’t previously possible and a greater number of facilities means that there is a significant reduction in the risk of infection and patient dignity and care are promoted.
The Unit is a completely new service for the Trust and will follow an innovative care model, with beds and chemotherapy chairs so areas can be used flexibly. There is also the capacity for the unit to grow, without reducing the number of beds available.
Co-locating sickle inpatients with the outpatient service was an important milestone in supporting the King’s Health Partner’s (an Academic Health Science Centre) desire to become a national sickle cell centre.
key information
Project summary
Location
London, SE1 9RT
Client
Guy’s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust
Completion
2023
Includes
Five patient rooms
Ambulatory out-patient area
Social spaces
Kitchen
Two consultation rooms
Awards
Building Better Healthcare Awards 2022
Highly commended - Patient’s Choice Award
Links/references
1. Grinyer A. “Young people living with cancer. Implications for policy and practice. Open University Press”, 2007
Team
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