Wauchope District Hospital, New Palliative Care Unit
Client: Mid North Coast Local Health District
Completion: July 2014
The new Palliative Care Unit at Wauchope District Hospital consists of eight overnight specialist palliative care beds, visitors lounge, staff offices, meeting room and various support spaces.
The overarching brief requirement for this project was to provide each patient room with a dignified outlook and connection to the outside environment as well as to provide spaces for friends and families to reflect and support each other outside of the patient rooms. Each room has individual access to a north facing balcony as well as to individual ensuites. The visitor lounge also has access to an external balcony away from the patient rooms and the lounge contains tea making facilities and soft furnishings for comfort.
Colour selection was carefully considered in the design of this building. A palette of natural hues compliments the artwork selected by the Hospital and allows patients to personalise each space during their stay. The building has been described by the client as ‘bright and cheerful’.
Low maintenance contemporary materials have been selected to contract with the existing hospital buildings, indicating and reinforcing the positive future direction the Hospital is aiming to achieve.