A package of Altro products has been used in the Imber Ward -- a new, ‘environmentally-sustainable’ facility providing extra bed capacity for elderly care patients, at Salisbury District Hospital.
Housed in the new £14 m building Elizabeth Building, named in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Imber Ward provides 24 additional beds in a mix of four-bed bays and side rooms, and was part-funded by the hospital’s charity, the Stars Appeal.
A combination of Altro floors and walls was used throughout. Altro Illustra, Altro, Suprema, and Altro Operetta floors ‘provide safety, natural aesthetics, and ease of cleaning’, Altro Wood affords a homely, welcoming feel, and Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) was used for the walls, creating an individual design focus for the ward and quiet room. Altro Pisces and Altro Whiterock Satins and Altro Whiterock White were installed in the bathrooms, showers, and wetrooms, giving staff and patients the reassurance of bare foot and shod safety from slips, and easy-to-clean hygienic walls.
Lesley Self, the hospital’s ArtCare Projects officer, and Julia Gregory from its Estates Capital Projects Team, used focus groups with patients, families, visitors, and clinical teams to inform the new ward’s design. The interior ‘reflects the colourful four seasons’, incorporating local landscapes with photos and drawings. Walls and floors have a biophilic theme and are customisable with digitally printed images. Unique, customised rooms aid wayfinding, ensuring that each room is distinct.
Catering for elderly patients with complex needs, the design principles for creating dementia-friendly environments were key. Lesley Self explained: “Patients may experience disorientation while navigating the area, so integrating wayfinding into the overall design concept was essential. Understanding these needs was part of the design process, as was also helping staff take ownership and care of the spaces by understanding why design is important to them, and how amazing it can look.”
Imber Ward is the biggest capital development at Salisbury District Hospital in nearly 20 years, and underpins the hospital’s elective recovery programme.
Altro products have in fact been used over the years in a wide range of projects at the hospital. Lesley Self explained: “We have always used Altro products, as they are great for clinical environments, being versatile, and providing a safe, hygienic, softening finish. We know that these products will be in place for at least 20 years, so they need to be durable, flexible, and able to match changing colour schemes.”