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Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust Lozenge
Foundations for our future Logo

New clinical building at Calderdale Royal Hospital

October 2025 - RIBA stage 4

In October 2025 we further developed the design for our new clinical building as part of RIBA stage 4, which is the technical design stage.

RIBA 4 is where we produce the detailed architectural and engineering designs and specifications.

Here is what patients, the public and our staff have told us, and how this has been used in the detailed design plans.

You said

Accessibility, diversity and inclusion should be promoted throughout the design.

We did
  • Audio-visually separate Children’s Emergency Department
  • Separate elderly Emergency Department/Frailty SDEC
  • 60% single bedroom provision across all new wards
  • Accessible toilets for staff and visitors on each ward
  • Male/female staff toilets on each ward
  • Bariatric room with ceiling mounted hoist on each ward
  • Separate male, female and cubicle changing rooms for staff
  • Accessible admin spaces
  • Accessible food preparation areas in staff rest rooms
You said

Natural lighting is extremely important and helps improve recovery times.

We did
  • Full height window in all patient bedrooms
  • Large curved glass wall to most family rooms
  • Maximised use of windows in ED rooms
  • Full glass wall in ED waiting room
An artist impression which shows the natural daylight in one of the bedrooms
You said

Reception and waiting areas should be welcoming with a range of seating options.

We did
  • A range of options in our waiting areas, including areas with greater privacy.
An artist impression of what one of the waiting areas will look like
You said

The colour scheme should use warm, calming shades and not cool, clinical shades.

We did

Specific colour schemes on each level which use green, orange, blue and yellow tones which feel warmer.

An image which shows some of the colours that will be used in the new clinical building
You said

Privacy and dignity is essential.

We did
  • 16 single bedrooms on each ward, each with en-suite
  • 2 en-suites in each 4 bed bay
  • Dedicated procedure room on each ward
  • Glass sliding doors and curtains in each ED majors bay
  • Wooden doors on minors bays
  • Dedicated adult mental health suite
  • Dedicated children’s mental health room
  • 2 family rooms in ED Resus with bereavement room
You said

There should be accommodation available for carers.

We did
  • Storage for carer’s bed in each single bedroom
  • Family room on each ward
  • Fitted storage for patient belongings in each bed space
An artist impression of some of the accommodation adjustments for carers
You said

The environment must promote social interaction with other patients, family members, visitors and staff.

We did
  • Family room on each ward
  • Seated lounge in ED Minors and Frailty ED
  • Family room in ED majors
  • We will also avoid 100% single bedrooms
An artist impression of one of the seated lounge areas
You said

The wayfinding solution should give greater clarity to help people move easily around the building and include considerations for people with a hearing or visual impairment.

We did
  • Wayfinding colours that are supplementary to main wayfinding signage guidance
  • Accent palettes which compliment the wayfinding colour within departments
  • Therapeutic colour palette-feature walls in specific spaces
You said

Our experiences at work are important for wellbeing.

We did
  • Storage
  • Admin space
  • Rest areas
  • Changing rooms
  • Visibility in staff areas.
An artist impression of the admin area for staff
You said

We need to embrace digital in the design so we can make the most of digital in the delivery of patient care.

We did
  • E-triage
  • Electronic medicine management in ED
  • Fully digital building management system
  • Digital Nurse Call
  • Electronic access control
  • Bluetooth enabled lifts
  • We will also be digitally enabled with an integrated network and infrastructure which enables:
    • Electronic drug storage on wards
    • Digital patient information boards
    • Smart screen in patient rooms
    • Ambient voice recognition
    • Digital signage
    • Electronic meal ordering

October 2024 patient experience review

This looked at a wide variety of sources, including patient experience surveys, comments and feedback from the Friends and Family Test, and insight from the most recent National Patient Survey, as well as other strategies and guidance in our Trust.

The key themes, which have been used to inform the design of the building are below:

Key theme You said
Wayfinding
  • Develop a wayfinding strategy which is clear, logical and intuitive.
  • Make sure wayfinding is consistent across the whole hospital, not a different system in the new building to the existing one.
  • Improved signage and better signage for people with visual impairment.
  • More wayfinding options – e.g. information before I arrive, digital maps.
  • Clear patient letters and communication about my appointment or visit.
Privacy and dignity
  • More side rooms would help maintain privacy and dignity.
  • Ensuite facilities in both side rooms and four bedded bays.
  • Spaces within the ward that could be used for private discussions.
  • A space where minor procedures can be undertaken (rather than in a four bedded bay).
  • Designs that protect patient privacy – e.g. using blinds on windows /door vision panels and glazed screens to bedrooms and clinical areas.
  • Patients with wheelchairs to be able to see out of windows, without compromising patient privacy.
Accessibility and a supportive environment
  • Our building designs should support the needs of people with disabilities (seen and unseen), meeting legislation and building regulations.
  • Automatic doors would support access into and around the building.
  • Appropriately sized lifts with audio facility would help with orientation.
  • Wheelchair users should be considered when positioning the ward entry buzzer.
  • Bedside facilities should support patient technology – e.g. somewhere to charge phone.
  • The ward reception area should be readily visible and accessible.
Noise reduction (ambient noise especially at night)
  • Look at ways to reduce noise from people and the environment (e.g. equipment) at night.
  • Consider more side rooms than bed bays.
  • More en-suite facilities to reduce patient movement through the wards.
  • Making bed bays bigger than the ones in the current hospital.
  • Have soft closing bins in patient areas as standard.
  • Consider how to reduce noise from the staff base through clever ward layout designs.