A&E

The enhancements we made to the Emergency Department at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital have helped to create a calmer environment in which to be treated.

In 2015, the Emergency Department (ED) at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital was significantly expanded and redeveloped. We worked closely with the hospital to transform the department using innovative design informed by research by the Design Council that shows how light, colour, smell and sound can affect hormones, brain activity and the way people behave.

This enhanced environment aims to reduce waiting times and lower patient anxiety, stress and pain, leading to improved clinical outcomes. Adaptable lighting, ceiling light boxes and window manifestations, and bespoke music playlists were all factored into the redevelopment.

Site-specific art commissions

Thanks to our generous supporters, we commissioned several artists and designers to create a calmer environment in which to be treated.

Sarah Beck Mather collaborated with the ED team to create beautiful hand-painted circles using watercolours and pastels, which were turned into large-scale Perspex and vinyl displays.

In the Fracture Clinic, a series of skeletons by Taiwanese-born artist Jazz Szu-Ying Chen provide a modern interpretation of medical illustrations that are educational as well as decorative.

Helen Bridges incorporated art and design principles that can help those with dementia into her artwork in the Emergency Observation Unit.

Monika Bravo transformed the Urgent Care Centre with a scheme of artwork that overlays natural imagery, city scenes and bold colours.

Design agency Boex created a calm and informal waiting area in our Paediatric Emergency Department, with curved wood seating and interactive screens.

Artist Maddy Sargent created a large, playful illustration for the waiting room. ‘A Child’s View of London’ takes inspiration from local landmarks.

Video art collective Accademia produced bespoke digital work called The Zoo, which features a series of moving animal portraits to distract and entertain our youngest patients.

The new artwork brings some much-needed brightness to the department

Staff member, ED Department

Explore our Design and Environment programme

Art collection

We have a collection of more than 2,000 artworks including bespoke commissions, many of which are on display in our hospitals and clinics.

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Design Standards Guide

We use our Design Standards Guide to inform our work and bring a cohesive and informed approach to the delivery of new schemes.

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Projects

See how we’ve helped to transform the hospital environment, including our work with artists to produce unique commissions.

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Exhibitions

Dedicated spaces in our hospitals host temporary exhibitions that showcase the creativity of local partners and artists.

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