Royal London Hospital: Designed for operational effectiveness
The first phase of a £1 redevelopment and expansion of The Royal London Hospital officially opened in March this year culminating in one of the most complex hospital moves ever undertaken. The state-of-the-art hospital, globally recognized as a leader in pre-hospital and trauma care, boasts of advanced features including specialized ventilation systems to keep air 100% fresh, control infection and reduce noise. The move to the new, 17 storey hospital, which is located next door to the old hospital site accessed from Whitechapel Road or Stepney Way, involved moving 3,000 staff, patients and some 11,000 boxes.
Most exciting move ever made
It has been hailed as one of the most complex hospital moves ever undertaken. Chief Executive Peter Morris said, “This move into our new hospital, which for the first time brings our clinical teams together under one roof, gives us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide a health legacy to a community with some of the most challenging health needs anywhere in the developed world.” Mr. Morris also said, “I am incredibly proud of what our staff has achieved in reaching today’s milestone, which marks a new and exciting chapter in the Royal London’s history.” The new hospital has replaced a number of now demolished old buildings with a coherent structure, purpose-built to support the delivery of 21st century clinical care.
The architecture of the new hospital building
The world’s most acclaimed architectural design company HOK was selected as the architect for the project by Skansa. The new hospital features a cluster of inter-connected contemporary glass buildings, including two 18 storey towers and one 10 storey tower. The 727-bed hospital has 6,000 rooms, 52,000 pieces of new furniture, loose equipment, 28,000 towels, 3,000 pillows and 12,000 keys. The tallest part of the building is 284 sq ft, the same height as Big Ben. The building has used 7,000 km of metal reinforcement (the distance between London and Miami), and 175,000 tonne of concrete. Royal London Hospital is a completely sealed building and the windows do not open. The building is completely ventilated with 100% fresh air as a way to reduce noise and control infection. The 17-storey building took about five years to complete at a cost of £650 million. It has been designed with inputs from nurses and doctors to provide the best healing environment for patients.
World-class services and facilities offered at the Royal London Hospital
The new hospital has been designed to best manage patient, visitor and staff foot traffic. The hospital has been recognized worldwide as a leader in pre-hospital and trauma care. The new hospital programme is replacing many of the current ageing buildings with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities. The Royal London Hospital provides emergency care with a resident Emergency Department consultant available 24 hours a day. It also offers renal and urology services, and maternity facilities. Maxillofacial surgery is the Trust’s major specialties. The hospital’s eight maxillofacial consultants can now practice this surgery in state-of-the-art operating theatres.
Glance into the history of the hospital
Royal London Hospital is a part of the Barts Health NHS Trust. It was founded in September 1940, and was initially named The London Infirmary. In the year 1748, the name was changed to The London Hospital. Again on its 250th anniversary in the year 1990, its name was again changed to The Royal London Hospital. In May 1741the hospital was moved to Prescott Street and remained there until 1757.
The Royal London Hospital enjoys the best reputation and is successfully well-known for its expertise in clinical areas.