Architecture awards for cancer and respiratory centres

Patient-friendly designs for new cancer and respiratory centres have won prestigious architecture awards.

The new Cancer Centre at Guy's Hospital won the 'Best ideas or new concept' category at the Architects for Health Design Awards on Monday (22 June).

The Lane Fox REMEO Respiratory Centre, based in the grounds of East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, won the 'Best new building' category and was the overall winner of the Design Awards from all the shortlisted entries in all categories.

Programme Manager Sally Laban says: "Our new Cancer Centre will transform the environment in which our staff treat cancer patients when it opens in Autumn 2016.

"At present some patients are treated in 13 different locations in eight buildings on two hospital sites. When the Cancer Centre opens, they will be able to get most of their treatment under one roof in a purpose-built facility which has been designed in partnership with our patients."

Catherine Zeliotis, of healthcare architects Stantec, adds: “Listening to patients’ insights and aspirations for the new Cancer Centre inspired us to come up with a new idea to enhance the patient and staff experience.

“The ‘village’ concept, coupled with access to light and nature, is designed to provide a human-scale architecture which supports both well-being and clinical needs.”

Ivan Harbour, of architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, agrees: “The Cancer Centre at Guy’s will combine a welcoming and uplifting environment with state-of-the-art treatment facilities. It is designed on a human scale to provide the best possible experience for patients and their families.”

The Lane Fox REMEO Respiratory Centre in Redhill, which opened last year, is the UK’s first purpose-built centre to ‘wean’ respiratory patients from mechanical ventilation and enable them to eventually return home.

Dr Nicholas Hart, Clinical Director of both the Lane Fox Respiratory Unit at St Thomas’ and the new Lane Fox REMEO Respiratory Centre in Redhill, explains: “Moving patients from intensive care to an environment more conducive to recovery will aid their recovery and enables their transition home.”

Marc Levinson, of architects Murphy Phillips, says: “We developed the scheme in close collaboration with patients, their families and carers, as well as staff.

“The design embraces the surrounding natural landscape, maximises daylight and views, and optimises the environment’s therapeutic benefits. One of the key innovations is a layout which means every bed bay has its own window.”