Emergency Department Improvements Hillingdon Hospital A&E

Drawing on our experience across both acute healthcare and mental health environments, OA Architecture is working closely with Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to enhance its existing Emergency Department. The project responds to the evolving demands placed on emergency care, including an increasing number of patients presenting with mental health needs, while improving the overall experience for patients and staff.

Our work builds on the successful delivery of The Lighthouse, an on-site mental health assessment facility located adjacent to the Emergency Department. Designed to provide an immediate, safe and therapeutic environment away from the pressures of the main department, The Lighthouse established an important foundation for the Trust’s wider approach to supporting patients experiencing mental health crises.

The Trust is now undertaking a multi-phase refurbishment programme to improve the Emergency Department more broadly. The proposals will improve workflows, security and waiting areas, alongside a new calming colour scheme designed to create a more supportive patient environment. A new ‘fit to sit’ area and earlier diagnosis assessment area will help improve patient flow, while the wider changes will enable the department to respond more effectively to the different needs of those presenting for emergency care. Works are now underway, with completion expected in Spring 2027.