Overview
In South Crawley, children and young people have some of the poorest health outcomes and predictions in the county.
The Child Development Centre in Crawley Hospital was an old, overcrowded space and needed updating to meet compliance and safeguarding standards. NHSPS worked with Sussex ICB and Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust to reconfigure the space.
The £4.4 million build would provide a modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation to replace the outdated facilities. The facility opened in January 2024, offering a range of multi-disciplinary services for children from birth to 19 years of age, and their families. The Centre won Refurbishment Project of the Year at the IHEEM Health Estates Awards 2024 and was Highly Commended for the Best Interior Design Project at the Building Better Healthcare Awards 2024.
Impact
- Increased capacity: The addition of 16 new clinical rooms and multi-functional accommodation offers over 11,000 appointments a year.
- Reduced waiting times: More patients can get seen more quickly due to the improved healthcare delivery set up.
- Integrated services: The centre offers a range of services in one place, allowing different healthcare needs to be address together. People don’t have to schedule and attend multiple, separate appointments.
- Care closer to home: Bringing childcare and community services into one place, makes it easier for families to get all the care they need without traveling far.
- Enhanced patient experience: The bright and inviting design created a positive environment, leading to better responses from children and families. And the safe, age-appropriate setting supports best practices and integrated children’s care.
- Enhanced staff wellbeing and collaboration: The modern facilities with purpose-built spaces have also improved the wellbeing of staff, contributing to a more positive work environment. And closer co-location of clinical teams leads to better communication and joint working.
