Todd Architects have just delivered the £75m newbuild Omagh Hospital & Primary Care Complex in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland which is the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland. This new model of community care brings together acute and primary services on a shared campus, including four GP practices, a day procedure unit, urgent care department, 40 single bed ensuite wards and community outreach facilities.

The hospital has been moulded in response to the latest healthcare reports and future initiatives, offering short-stay services to help tackle waiting lists. This new model brings together acute and primary services on a shared campus, the full range of integrated healthcare and civic initiatives include;

• 40-bed en-suite wards
• Four local GP practices
• Adult Allied Health Professionals (Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Dietetics and Occupational Therapy)
• Women’s and Family Health
• Day Procedures and Endoscopy Unit
• Dental Department
• Urgent Care and Treatment (Minor Injuries)
• Cardiac Assessment
• Treatment Room and GP Out of Hours
• Clinical Care Centre
• Mental Health Services
• Children’s Centre
• X-Ray (Radiology)
• Outpatients / Cardio and Respiratory Investigations
• Podiatry
• Renal Department
• Hospital & Community Pharmacies
• Community outreach facilities.

Visual presence was a key architectural factor with the new building’s materiality, form and structure carefully designed to seamlessly blend into the tonal topographic palette of the country landscape, while also appearing prominent enough to showcase a sense of presence and engender an appropriate level of civic pride.

The approach to the overall scale and mass of the building is that of a linear two and three-storey configuration of connected pavilions, enclosing a series of courtyard gardens. This design approach visually reduces the mass and scale and in turn enables a range of views ‘to’, ‘from’ and ‘between’ the main blocks to the internal courtyards and beyond to the external surroundings, enhancing the user and visitor experience.

The interlinked pavilions each define individual departments, with two main entrances: a front of house glazed atrium with public foyer facilities and a rear Urgent Care ambulance entrance. All areas are accessible from these two main entrances, which in turn are connected by the glazed hospital streets. This layout was conceived to aid efficiency of functionality, guide and orientate patients, visitors and staff, while also creating a natural flow through the building. This principle is further extended to the individual departments where each section is colour coded by signage and furnishings to further aid distinction of purpose.

The streets connecting each pavilion are fully glazed on both levels, maximising natural light while also allowing for ease of orientation and impressive panoramas of the enclosed courtyard gardens and the surrounding rivers and mountains. Through this considered design, a therapeutic environment has been created for all users, both internally and externally, contributing to a relaxed and holistic setting.

Omagh Hospital & PCC design approach was based on ‘first principals’, where the building has the appropriate orientation, situation and massing, coupled with a design to maximise natural light and reduce running costs. Natural light illuminates all glazed levels, aiding patient orientation and natural ventilation is utilised where possible to serve public spaces and circulation in corridors, with mechanical ventilation installed to achieve the correct conditions in the patient treatment areas of the hospitals.

Break-out areas are interspersed throughout the hospital, designed to promote inclusiveness and to dissolve the traditional clinical barriers between staff and patients. These areas provide an informal meeting space and allow for patient-staff conservations, while also acting as an active social space for patients, staff and visitors to relax.

Ward areas cater for patients in recovery, rehabilitation and receiving palliative care. Each single en-suite room has a glazed façade and are arranged in clusters of ten rooms around a central invigilating nurse base. The approach to the design has carefully considered access and the balance of patient observation with privacy and the ability to have staff and patient control to suit a range of scenarios. Each ward is fitted with blinds for privacy during consultations and visits and have individual balcony access. There are a variety of room options catering for patient’s needs, including left-handed and right-handed en-suites and easier orientated rooms for those living with dementia.

Accessible courtyard gardens and outdoor landscaped areas surrounding the hospital encourage staff and patients outside where possible and offer external views to those unable to access the outdoors.

The main entrance atrium is designed to be an active public realm foyer offering a range of spaces of differing height, functions and views, characterised by its large glazed translucent appearance, a main reception, café, retail and waiting areas encouraging people to meet, interact and engage. Accessible community outreach meeting facilities are also available in the reception area for local groups to book and utilise.

Outside the main entrance is a locally influenced landscaped area offering both sheltered terrace seating and open-air seating, nestled among ornamental plants and trees. This external entrance area allows for easy access for vehicle pick up and drop off for patients and visitors.