ST JOHNS MEDICAL CENTRE, LEWISHAM
St. Johns Medical Centre Lewisham is a development of 1,450 m². Its facilites include a state-of-the-art:
- Medical centre
- Pharmacy
- Children’s nursery
Our Clients’ Needs
When St Johns approached us, it was a practice that faced several difficulties:
- It urgently needed more space. The current facilities were only one-third of the size required.
- Poor security. There had been a number of break-ins.
- The difficulty of identifying a site for development. Lewisham is an area of London that was once rundown, and which is now undergoing regeneration. An inner-city environment, it is a difficult place to purchase sites suitable for developing an independent, bespoke building.
MCD’s Approach
After we were approached, we were careful to assess both the needs of the practice and the potential for development in the area.
We identified a former petrol station as a suitable site. In order to secure it, we moved quickly, putting in an unconditional offer that outbid residential developers.
MCD also worked closely with the partners to identify an architect sympathetic to their needs. We wanted to ensure that they were comfortable with the architect appointed, and we interviewed several architectural practices together.
Our Solution
In order to enable St Johns to enhance the quality of its healthcare provision, MCD worked closely with the partners.
To address security concerns, an innovative concept was developed: the ground floor accommodates a pharmacy and children’s nursery; the practice occupies the first and second floors. This is a concept that we believe will work well in other environments – above supermarkets and shopping centres, for example.
During the development process, we also encouraged the partners to visit other recently completed surgeries. We then incorporated the best ideas into the brief. These included:
- Easy circulation and signage for patients
- Sound-proofing to ensure patient confidentiality
- Maximum natural light
- Good facilities for the staff – including a roof terrace
- Steel-framed construction to ensure internal flexibility, enabling the practice to adapt to future needs
- A large conference room for external functions
- Good quality of internal finishes
- Features to promote energy efficiency, including modern insulation techniques to reduce heating costs
- Features to minimise maintenance costs, including self-colour rendering to the walls and powder-coated windows
- Contemporary architectural design
Health Outcomes
The new build has provided St Johns with an opportunity to design its facilities with the aim of significantly improving patient care.
- Wider corridors enable good patient flow, with the minimum of discomfort
- Hard flooring has been used throughout the medical centre to ensure that all rooms have the flexibility to offer various clinical services
- The waiting room has been designed to observe latest guidelines of patient dignity and confidentiality. Furthermore, every door and wall has been built using materials that offer complete sound insulation
- All of the consulting rooms have been built to a size, and specification, that can respond to the changing demands of primary healthcare
- 7 out of the 16 consulting rooms contain state-of-the- art peninsular clinician’s couches, which make consultations much more comfortable for the patient
- The new practice has large storage areas, conveniently located, to ensure that patients receive a better, more efficient service
