Ribblesdale Ward
Royal Preston Hospital

The aim of the project was to modernise the ward, improve patient privacy and dignity, and enhance the overall care environment for patients, families and staff.

The existing ward featured a mix of single rooms and multi-bed bays, none of which had en-suite facilities. This layout required patients to cross corridors to access shared sanitary facilities. The primary objectives of the refurbishment were:

• Increase the number of single rooms and provide en-suite facilities to all patient areas
• Improve the interior design to create a calming, modern environment
• Enhance ancillary spaces for patients, visitors, and staff

The Ribblesdale Ward refurbishment, partially funded by the Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Appeal, successfully transformed the ward into a modern, patient-centric environment. By improving privacy, dignity, and comfort, Tilbury Douglas delivered a space that significantly enhances the care experience for patients, their families, and the dedicated staff at Royal Preston Hospital.

Improved patient privacy:

• Reconfiguring the ward layout to include en-suite facilities in all multi-bed bays and added an extra single en-suite room. This change allowed more patients to receive care in private spaces
• Modernising all shower facilities into accessible wet rooms, enabling more independent use and enhancing patient dignity

Enhanced interior design:

• Replacing all door, floor, and wall finishes with a neutral palette of grey and light woods, creating a calming environment. Vibrant feature colours were introduced in each bay and bedroom, assisting with wayfinding and adding warmth to the space
• Installing light boxes at the entrance of each room, reflecting the feature colours and further aiding navigation
• Adding carefully selected artwork in key rooms to complement the new colour scheme and provide soothing landscape views

Innovative patient and visitor spaces:

• Developing specialist timber joinery around each bedspace, creating a defined personal area for patients. This feature included extended storage in some single rooms, with cleverly hidden drop-down visitor beds to enhance room flexibility
• Positioning a modern Relatives’ Room near the Quiet Lounge and single rooms, offering a private and tranquil space for visitors
• Creating a state-of-the-art assisted bathroom, featuring a colour-changing LED star ceiling to enhance the patient bathing experience