A new Women and Children’s Hospital is to be built at the heart of the Royal Cornwall Hospital site in Truro to replace the existing Princess Alexandra Wing. The new hospital will bring together all women and children’s services into one building, including Maternity, Neonatal and Paediatric care; Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Poynton Bradbury Architects won a design competition and were appointed by RCHT in 2018 to design the concept and propose a vision for the new hospital. After achieving a sucessful outline planning approval the intent is that Poynton Bradbury Architects will be retained as Architectural Technical Advisor to the Trust following the appointment of the contractor-led delivery team.
Key features of the new building will be a consultant-led birthing suite; a midwife-led birthing suite; a neonatal intensive care unit with transitional care facilities; and a day assessment unit for maternity patients. The new hospital will have dedicated operating theatres to support the birthing suites and provide gynaecological surgery. There will be a Paediatric Assessment Unit for children who require urgent ambulatory care, a new retail pharmacy, café, and other support facilities.
The building will become the new Main Entrance for the whole hospital site, providing an opportunity to improve the wayfinding and circulation of the existing hospital. The proposals link the existing Trelawny Wing and Tower Block, whilst maintaining privacy and dignity for women and children using the new building. A new Therapeutic Play Garden is also being created to provide children and families an opportunity to rest away from the busy hospital environment.
