Community Health Centre

Completion of Edridge Road Community Health Centre

One of MDR’s major new projects of 2010 is now complete. Edridge Road Community Health Centre (ERCHC) in Croydon opened its doors to the public on the 30th June providing a healthcare hub for the people of Croydon. The opening ceremony for the new walk-in centre will take place next month.

ERCHC marks MDR’s successful introduction into the field of Healthcare. The project involved the transformation of the ground floor of the successfully refurbished Impact House, to provide specialized accommodation for PCT Community Services. The centre has been developed as a one stop shop to allow local people to access a range of healthcare services including a GP, Contraception and Sexual Health services, dental, pharmacy, breast screening and health visitor services.

The layout has been designed for open access and houses a variety of small, locally situated, secondary waiting areas placed adjacent to the various departments to ease movement around the centre. These smaller seating areas help to free up the main reception while allowing patients increased privacy to the various services offered. This also allows clinicians to remove themselves from the front reception/ waiting area.

The facilities include five GP surgeries, multi purpose clinics and a sessional suite offering a variety of community and patient services. The consultation rooms are generous in size providing much needed storage for clinicians. In addition to patient accessible areas, secure zones are provided for staff accommodation.

Behind a welcoming glazed façade, the main entrance leads directly into the principal waiting area and reception which serves as a constant wayfinding reference and central hub for the centre. To further assist the visitor to navigate around the centre, a strategy was adopted whereby each department was assigned a colour which was introduced to signage and interior design, presenting an attractive, boldly coloured internal environment. The graphic treatment of feature walls enlivens the traditional sterile interior of medical centres creating an inviting and stimulating environment.

The playful treatment of the interior has been carried throughout the building, extending its’ reach beyond the external envelop. To overcome issues of privacy that may be encountered by passers by, the glazed façade has been treated with a patterned graduated film providing high levels of daylight while maintaining the privacy of patients.

The centre welcomed its’ first patient on the 30th June. Positive comments have been received from patients particularly noting that the centre feels ‘airy and welcoming’.

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