Skip to content
Quattro Design Architects
Gloucester 01452  424234
London 020 4542 5678
Cardiff 029 2274 5925
Gloucester 01452  424234
London 020 4542 5678
Cardiff 029 2274 5925
  • Architectural Services
    • Architecture
      • Building Information Modelling (BIM)
      • Design Services
      • Feasibility Studies
      • Interior Design
      • Technical Design (RIBA Stages 4-6)
      • View Service
    • Sustainable Design
      • Low Carbon Design
      • Passivhaus Architecture
      • View Service
    • Collaboration
      • Community Consultation
      • Design & Build
      • Developer Led
      • View Service
    • Planning
      • Masterplanning
      • Planning Applications
      • Planning Consultancy
      • Premises Development Plans
      • View Service
    • Project Management
      • Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2022/23
      • Contract Management
      • Lead Consultant (Project Lead)
      • Principal Designer
      • View Service
    • Historic Buildings & Conservation
      • View Service
    • Landscape Architecture
      • View Service
    • Visualisation
      • View Service
  • Projects
    • Education
    • Healthcare
    • Housing
    • Later Living & Care
    • Leisure & Hospitality
    • Commercial & Mixed Use
    • Sustainability
  • Studio
    • Why Quattro
    • People
    • Careers
    • Accreditations, Affiliations and Frameworks
  • Insights
  • Contact
Home/Insights/How is Healthcare Design reacting to the current pandemic?

How is Healthcare Design reacting to the current pandemic?

17 June 2020

How has Healthcare Design reacted to the current pandemic?

There isn’t a sector in our industry that hasn’t been affected or won’t be influenced by the current pandemic in one way or another.

Whilst changes will generally trickle down to day to day design, the Healthcare sector has reacted without hesitation, publishing new design guidance that is already evolving.

Read the full article by Robert Walder, Director at Quattro Design Architects, to find out how Healthcare Design has been impacted by Covid-19.

Healthcare article

Robert Walder, Director at Quattro Design Architects, talks about Healthcare Design during and post the current pandemic.

There isn’t a sector in our industry that hasn’t been affected or won’t be influenced by the current pandemic in one way or another.

Whilst changes will generally trickle down to day to day design, the Healthcare sector has reacted without hesitation, publishing new design guidance that is already evolving.

With the likelihood of a vaccine being months away, and rolling it out to the public many months beyond that; we can’t ignore the fact that a surge in hospital admissions will continue for some time. In fact, as we edge ever closer towards the influenza period and norovirus season, NHS pressures will be once again put to the test like never before, as the addition of Covid-19 patients will weigh heavily on what is already a pressured period for admissions.

One thing is certain, we are now engaging in a new approach to Healthcare Design, one that’s been born out of the current reaction to this complex and challenging pandemic. An approach that will see a much more agile and flexible Healthcare delivery and estate, and one that will find it harder to justify derogations on space standards to address short term need. I see this as a real positive step forward in Healthcare Design, where adaptability will be key, not necessarily across the board, but considered and targeted.

Our Healthcare Team at Quattro Design is currently working on fast track projects with NHS Trusts to develop duel function Healthcare delivery environments in time for the widely predicted surge in patient numbers. In one example, a ward will operate as a stroke unit under ordinary circumstances, and in times of need it will flex to become an additional ICU ward. With such a fundamental change in ward function, a relatively small staff to patient ratio transforms to a much, much higher ratio. The same can be said for the specialist equipment needed to care for ventilated patients, and not to mention the huge onus on M&E adaptability.

Heating, cooling, air changes, negative/natural pressure spaces all need to flex with the ward use, and then there’s the support spaces. ICU need lots of storage, sluice, drug room, workspace areas, etc.  All very much achievable but requiring close planning and collaboration between designer and user.

I think we will see a clear directional shift with our clients focusing on longer term life cycle costs for projects; however, more often than not, this will require more financial outlay at the outset.

Although this is far from being the first pandemic in recent years, it has certainly highlighted many aspects of Healthcare Design requiring a great deal more consideration. To not being simply patient focused, but to deliver real solutions for the working conditions of NHS staff; how we protect those who need and work within our Healthcare Sector, whilst also making buildings more aspirational, adaptable, agile and flexible.

Stratton Ward, hospital
Previous Article
Next Article

Have a project in mind?

Gloucester: 01452  424234

London: 020 4542 5678

Cardiff: 029 2274 5925

info@quattrodesign.co.uk

    Quattro Design Architects

    35+ years delivering Sustainable Architecture across the U.K. At Quattro, we design Architecture for the people who will benefit from the places and spaces we create. Our designs excite and inspire, regularly exceeding expectation. Sustainability, Collaboration and Social Value lie at the heart of our work.

    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Architecture
    • Collaboration
    • Historic Buildings & Conservation
    • Landscape Architecture
    • Planning
    • Project Management
    • Sustainable Design
    • Visualisation
    • Education
    • Healthcare
    • Housing
    • Later Living & Care
    • Leisure & Hospitality
    • Commercial & Mixed-Use
    • Why Quattro
    • People
    • Careers

    Regional Offices

    info@quattrodesign.co.uk

    Gloucester (Head Office)

    01452  424234

    London

    020 4542 5678

    Cardiff

    029 2274 5925

    Contact Us
    RIBA Chartered Practice
    Constructionline
    CIOB
    AECB
    • Accreditations, Affiliations & Frameworks
    • ISO 45001
    • ISO 9001
    • ISO 14001
    • CRP
    • Certified Privacy and Cookies Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Company Registration Number 4767576