The new £25 million Walkergate Park Hospital in Newcastle, designed by P+HS Architects, has been officially opened by paralympic wheelchair athlete Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.
With a track record in delivering acute, mental heath and primary care facilities across the UK, P+HS Architects acted as the principal architect for the development working on behalf of development team, United Medical Enterprises Invetsments and Clugston Construction. The new hospital was procured by the Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust under the Private Finance Initiative.
The two-storey building is a contemporary design that uses warm tones of brickwork, render and cladding set around enclosed landscaped therapy gardens. A wide, curved and predominantly glazed application to the main entrance promotes an open and welcoming arrival.
The ground floor entrance leads to facilities for education, training and research, emphasising the aspiration to be a centre of excellence. The therapy department lies next to the main entrance for ease of day care access, integrating physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. It contains state-of-the-art facilities including a hydrotherapy pool.
The inpatient wards are situated towards the rear of the site, providing 100% single bedroom accommodation to ensure maximum privacy and dignity for patients. Also incorporated are services for electronic aids development, and the regional adapted vehicle test track, where users can be assessed for their suitability for driving on the road.
The outpatients department is located over the main entrance on the first floor to ensure ease of access. Adjacent to this are the Regional Disability Team and the Community Multiple Sclerosis Team. A roof terrace allows patients immediate access to the outdoors. Office space is also allocated on this floor.
A key feature of the hospital is the art installation that forms a critical part of the Healing Arts programme for the NHS. Working with the Arts Council, several artists were commissioned to provide a range of installations using a £150,000 budget. These include a multi-faith chapel and sculptures designed to stimulate the senses. Set in the heart of the site and enclosed by the building for a sense of privacy and security are the therapy gardens, which include a large courtyard garden, a smaller courtyard garden, and a working garden for therapeutic cultivation.
Bill Murray, chair of the RIBA Health Client Forum, commented: “Healing environments, single rooms, arts programmes, quality landscaping and the innovative use of old healthcare sites are all important ingredients in modern healthcare design. The new £25 million Walkergate Park Centre in Newcastle has all of these blended into a most exciting rehabilitation campus.”
