March 2026
New Spaces for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Hunters has successfully completed the refurbishment of two critical service areas at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital: the Day Surgery Unit and the Adult Therapy Department. These projects form part of a broader redevelopment plan aimed at enhancing patient care and healthcare infrastructure.
The Adult Therapy Department
The healthcare team has designed an uplifting, bright and contemporary new adult therapy area situated on the lower ground floor, transforming what were originally dark and tired spaces. The refurbished department features state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment to deliver outstanding patient care. Facilities include a new and improved hand therapy area, rehabilitation gym, consulting spaces for pelvic health and musculoskeletal physiotherapy and a burns therapy area. The collaborative design process by Hunters ensured the new spaces were reflective of staff, patient, and visitor needs.
In collaboration with CW+, art has been thoughtfully integrated throughout key communal areas, including waiting rooms. A curated collection of digital and print artworks celebrating local landmarks and green spaces contributes to a welcoming and therapeutic atmosphere.
The Day Surgery Unit
The comprehensive refurbishment of the Day Surgery Unit addresses challenges exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, including disrupted patient circulation and spatial limitation. Hunters undertook an in-depth review of the existing layout and developed innovative design solutions to maximise space efficiency and functionality beyond a simple like-for-like replacement.
The upgrade includes the refurbishment of two new state-of-the-art operating theatres and a 24-hour recovery ward featuring stage 1 recovery area and three different types of private patient cabins (28 cabins in total). Additional improvements include enhanced staff rest areas, all contributing to an expanded unit capacity and improved experiences for both patients and staff. This redesign supports streamlined elective care pathways, optimises post-operative recovery, and facilitates more efficient patient discharge.
The enhanced facilities are expected to significantly reduce patient waiting times and improve overall healthcare delivery for some of the 1.5 million people served by the Trust.
Tim Ashton, Director at Hunters said ‘‘Not only are the spaces welcoming and uplifting areas, but it’s also a much more practical and carefully planned space for the staff who work there and the patients who experience it. The dark underground corridors now feel soothing and welcoming for patients and staff alike whilst patients experience is at the heart of the day surgery unit.’’
These are two of several healthcare refurbishments Hunters are designing for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.