MAAP shortlisted for 2021 Wolfson Prize

From the Essay

Bringing the hospital into the town centre benefits both the town and the hospital. We have looked at the available data and of the 268 NhS hospitals in England, perhaps only 30 are within 10 minutes of their town centre. Six towns with different histories and geographies that could be potential candidates for reintegration are reviewed to illustrate the social and economic benefits that might accrue and test the wider efficacy. The invigoration of the town economy, a reduction in car journeys, the potential to exploit existing and vacant space and superior future flexibility. (In contrast to the continued (over)development of crowded hospital campus sites.)

One of these towns (Barnstaple) was selected for the detailed case study that forms the centrepiece of this submission. an all new acute hospital under three roofs is shown on a riverside site flanked by a new Post-acute unit, a dementia/mental health unit and a ‘Wellness hotel’. The total pool of available beds and places is increased, but total revenue costs are not. The use of the acute hospital to accommodate patients not needing or benefiting from acute medical care is expensive and therapeutically negative. The new hospital is smaller, with 100% single rooms, but has the same acute treatment facilities and capacity as the existing sprawling district General hospital (dGh).