CW+, the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has published an evaluation of the redevelopment of the adult intensive care unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, two years after its official opening.
The redevelopment of the adult ICU and the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) included environmental improvements such as “45 percent expansion in size, new facilities and technological enhancements, and new respite spaces including an indoor botanical Sky Garden”.
The evaluation revealed that “for patients, environmental improvements were found in reduced sound levels, warmer temperatures and a huge increase in daytime light levels”. Relatives and visitors have also benefited, with more spacious bed areas and expanded overnight facilities included in the redevelopment.
For staff, the biggest improvement the report found was in the increased amount of space within the unit, “facilitating the movement of patients and equipment, and, in combination with the overall aesthetic of the unit and window views, creating a calmer working environment”.
Leigh Paxton, matron of the mdult ICU, said: “For the patients here, and for the staff who care for them, the transformation of the ICU has made a huge difference. I’ve seen first-hand the impact that these redevelopments have already made.”
Leigh added: “By incorporating innovations and digital solutions that can be personalised to each patient, we have seen reductions in anxiety, pain and stress, improving patient experience and recovery. The improvements have also been positive for staff, with the increase in space benefiting staff wellbeing.
“Looking ahead, it’s really important that we are constantly collecting and analysing data to evaluate these environments to build a compelling evidence base, and an ideal blueprint to share with sister institutions and across the NHS.”
Last year, we covered the completion of York Hospital’s new purpose built £2.5 million ICU, which was part of a multi-million pound project to redesign and expand the emergency department’s urgent and emergency care facilities.
To read the CW+ evaluation report in full, please click here.
