The basement corridor of the Armthorpe Road site is one of the Trust’s busiest thoroughfares, with essential activity taking place throughout its various lanes and avenues. As such, while the area is a hub of activity, it can sometimes be a dull and drab place to walk through, with little to look at and a few tell-tale scuff marks on walls as essential work is undertaken and low speed vehicles escort vital supplies around the hospital.
In a bid to brighten up the basement, the area has received a fresh coat of paint, more lighting has been fitted and brand new portholes and windows have been placed on walls, with glimpses of far off and deep-sea locations for staff and visitors to look at when travelling through this area.
Connecting the Women’s and Children’s Hospital with the rest of DRI, the corridor now contains a sub-aquatic section, with brass portholes showing-off vivid underwater scenes, with all piping in the area similarly finished in fitting with the theme. Just a little further on, the adventure heads top-side as expansive windows show-off impressive views of the Seven Wonders of the World, complete with brief text descriptions of these places, explaining their history and significance.
Dr Kirsty Edmondson Jones, Director of Estates and Facilities at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), said: “The basement area of Doncaster Royal Infirmary is one of the busiest areas of the hospital. As a vital artery which connects to most services within the hospital, most colleagues will the visit these corridors at least once a week, sometimes bringing with them patients who need to be transported around the site.
“It’s long been an ambition of the Trust to improve this particular area, transforming it from an entirely functional thoroughfare to something brighter, more engaging and comfortable for both colleagues and patients to travel through. These simple decorations have completely transformed the basement area and have been met with an overwhelming amount of positivity – we couldn’t be more pleased with our brand new views!”
This project was based upon feedback from visitors to the Trust and entirely developed by Kirsty and her team, with every image hand selected, making this improvement completely bespoke to DBTH. A similar approach has been taken to recently refurbished lifts within the site’s East Ward Block, which now showcase a range of vivid tropical scenes.
The Estates and Facilities directorate at DBTH have further plans to improve the basement area and are exploring the possibility of bringing in a robot to help keep the area clean and dust free.