Paul Basham Associates’ Eastern Region supported St George’s University Hospital to deliver essential improvement works for the Emergency Department of the hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Brief
The brief was set in January 2021 to liaise with stakeholders to reconfigure existing blue-light and ambulance bays following a single storey extension to the ED department.
Initially, three separate design options were to be prepared for the reconfiguration of the ambulance bays. These arrangements were considered in detail to assess the geometry and vehicle swept path analysis to ensure ambulances could not only access and egress the bays safely but also that traffic could continue to pass adequately along the internal roads
Our Approach
The plans were provided to the Hospital and Paul Basham Associates hosted a panel discussion with key stakeholders including various departments within the hospital, the London Ambulance Service, and London Fire Brigade. The purpose of these discussions revolved around the costs and benefits of each option with the view to choose an option that would suit all stakeholders.
Of particular interest was the use of any proposed bays and their proximity to the ED entrance and the route paramedics would take from ambulance bays to the hospital to ensure this can be undertaken as safely and efficiently as possible. The proposals also considered the route for pedestrians and included a new crossing point to the Atkinson Morley Wing including dropped kerbs and tactile paving. In addition, liaison with TFL was also undertaken in regard to the route for buses adjacent to the ED department and pedestrian routes to the existing bus stops.
Once a final solution had been determined the team at Paul Basham Associates prepared detail plans to be delivered.
The Result
We were very pleased to visit the site recently and saw that the works had been completed. We are proud to have assisted the hospital in providing the best possible facilities during a challenging time. Paul Basham Associates are continuing to work with NHS trusts across the country.