P+HS Reflections: Northern Centre for Cancer Care

Now approaching three years in use, Patrick Kelly reflects upon the positive impacts the centre has made thanks to staff feedback and interviews.

Built in 2021 on the grounds of demolished tower block 02 at Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle, the Northern Centre for Cancer Care has been operational for three years. As with many of our projects we regularly re-visit and engage with end users to measure and understand performance and impact.

For P+HS the project represents a fine example of how we successfully developed a brief to define practical, emotional, and social needs of the end users, and this is represented expressively and creatively within the centre. As healthcare Architects we hold a privileged position to be able to reintroduce architecture into the medical process in partnership with clinicians and stakeholders.

At the Carlisle centre, we were able to do this in a non-traditional way, introducing mixed use spaces that focus on the individual and social needs of the visitors; a place where all are in it together: patients, consultants, staff, volunteers, and those just there through curiosity.

Architecture is a key component of the caring environment where we can create positive distractions amidst the most distressing personal experiences. The process of developing the design with staff and end users is always a unique and rewarding process where we learn through listening, asking the right questions and challenging ways of working. The staff have played an enormous role in creating a collaborative spirit upon which the success of this project can stand.

Read more here: Reflection on the Northern Centre for Cancer Care