Transforming Diagnostics in Norfolk

How LSI Architects delivered two new Community Diagnostic Centres in Norfolk

The national Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) Programme is now in its third year and so far over 170 CDC sites have been approved across England.

Part of an £85.9 million capital invested, the Norfolk and Waveney DAC programme is the largest capital investment in the region for over 20 years and delivers three new diagnostic facilities in Norfolk.

These new facilities are vitally important to reducing waiting times for patients in the region by providing increased capacity, which ultimately will mean patients receive faster treatment and will see improved health outcomes.

LSI Architects were commissioned by NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System to design new diagnostic centres for the James Paget University Hospital and The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn. These are two of three hospitals in the area benefiting from new diagnostic facilities.

The buildings each have the capacity for 40,000 outpatient appointments, including availability at weekends. With this provision for outpatients now provided outside of main hospital building, healthcare teams within the hospital will be able to focus on patients with more complex imaging needs.

Both centres are two-storey buildings, with the ground floor of each dedicated to diagnostic equipment and associated facilities and the first floor of each building dedicated to the extensive plant requirements. The massing steps back at the top storey and makes the centres primarily single-storey in appearance. The design team added this detail to allow each building to nestle comfortably into its surroundings.

Both centres achieve Net Zero Carbon in operation, incorporating all-electric systems and solar panels and are designed to meet BREEAM Excellent standards.

Overcoming Space and Cost as Primary Challenges

The design was really focused on delivering an excellent patient experience, for example we worked really closely with clinical teams to develop patient pathways that were simple and logical and have incorporated large glazed entrances to welcome in plenty of natural light and provide views outside. All those elements combine into a building that will reduce anxiety and promote wellbeing.

The strict budget meant that we were always looking for opportunities to bring delight through design but in cost efficient ways.

A really good example of this in practice is the recessed brick reveal detail with soldier course banding. This design intervention didn’t materially impact the cost of construction but it does have a material impact on how people perceive the building in that it gives the building a more ‘human scale’, directly responding to feedback from the planners through the consultation process to break up the elevations to give a more intimate feel.

These interventions are really important in terms of promoting an environment that supports patient wellbeing but were also achievable within the projects financial constraints.

As a design team, we have been able to accommodate a whole range of state-of-the-art imaging equipment into a condensed amount of space and respond to the extensive associated mechanical requirements within the budgetary constraints.

Using Design Quality Indicator for Health to support Stakeholder Engagement

The stakeholder engagement process was also supplemented by a DQIfH (Design Quality Indicator for Health) review,  a design quality evaluation tool for all types of healthcare projects, to ensure that the centres had been designed in line with best practice.

We undertook the DQI for Health (DQIfH) process to enhance our stakeholder collaboration and engagement process for these projects. Commissioned by the Department of Health and developed by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) in 2010, DQIfH replaced the Achieving Excellence Design Evaluation Tool (AEDET) and was first piloted by NHS London. It was officially launched in early 2014 by the NHS Trust Development Authority (now NHS Improvement) and the NHS England Project Appraisal Unit.

Now in it’s second iteration, the DQIfH aligns with the NHS business case process, covering Strategic Outline Case, Outline Business Case, Full Business Case, Construction, and Post Occupancy Evaluation. We utilised DQIfH to facilitate stakeholder engagement through professionally led workshops, ensuring that the client and key stakeholders are actively involved in all stages of the project consultation and design process.

The DFQiH also served as a comprehensive tool for design appraisal and staged reviews of NHS estate assurances. This addressed procurement processes early on and covered crucial aspects such as Carbon Reduction and Sustainability, Infection Prevention and Control, Fire Safety, Planning, Budget, and Travel Plans.

We are absolutely delighted to now see both centres open and welcoming patients. Both centres have been delivered on time and within budget, and we know these projects are going to have a real impact for patients, staff and the wider communities they belong to.

Feedback so far has been very positive. Patients now benefit from a dedicated centre closer to their home with a simplified and less stressful experience and staff are delighted with the new facilities.