The Peter Smith Surgery Centre was designed and built to provide first-class patient care at the QE Hospital, Gateshead.
Built at a cost of £13.3m, the centre has 60 in-patient beds, four operating theatres and a 16 patient day-case space. The surgery centre provides planned care for in-patients and day patients needing orthopaedic, gynaecological and general surgery.
The patient experience is at the forefront of design. Built on four floors, all patients have single en-suite rooms and in the day surgery area, each patient has private bed space for the entire full length of their stay. Both the internal and external environment is softened with specially commissioned original artworks and the centre is designed on hotel principles so that all service areas are away from public view.
On the ground floor, there is a light, welcoming and spacious reception area with two dramatic sculptures as a focal point. Comfortable chairs, sofas and a cafe and patio area make this a pleasant area to wait and relax.
The four operating theatres each have a state-of-the-art laminar flow clean air system and the very latest in anaesthetic and surgical equipment.
The unit prides itself on its excellent facilities, high quality care and ability to provide a very positive patient experience. Patient involvement played a big part in the development of the surgery centre and will continue to influence the way the service will develop.
The centre deals with all day case work as well as in-patient orthopaedic cases (ranging from minor hand and feet procedures to major primary and revision joint replacement) and gynaecology cases (including major abdominal hysterectomy.)