Being able to access support close to home can have a transformative effect on people’s lives. That is the simple principal behind the £24 million Cardigan Integrated Care Centre (ICC). The purpose designed unit brings together specialist health and social care facilities, including GP practices, x-ray and out-patient clinics, community resource teams (CRT), and mental health services. The range of services meet the needs of the local community, providing opportunities for knowledge sharing and accommodating for a more joined-up approach to care.
Internal spaces have been designed with a neutral palette, carefully selected to create a calm and uplifting environment for visitors. As a high-traffic, multi-service healthcare centre, the floor needed to provide exceptional ongoing performance. Criteria such as hygiene, slip resistance and aesthetics all needed to be considered. Polyflor flooring was installed throughout the building by Artisan flooring in a period of 16 weeks, providing durable, high quality solutions to meet the diverse requirements of this mixed care facility.
Within the consultation and treatment rooms, and circulation areas, Expona Flow PUR was specified in Moleskin and Oatmeal. The neutral shades provide a smooth finish with subtle pearlescent detailing, creating an attractive environment whilst also being practical, resilient and hygienic. Its polyurethane reinforcement (PUR) will allow a low cost, polish free maintenance regime for the lifetime of the product, perfectly meeting the rigorous demands of the new facility.
The calming colour scheme continued into the toilets, changing, clean and dirty utility and bay areas, where Polysafe Verona PUR was selected in Cookie Cream and Dolphin Grey. As a safety floor, Verona incorporates safety aggregates in the vinyl to improve traction. Whilst these aggregates are practically invisible, they provide a sustainable slip-resistant finish, providing safety underfoot and protection against spillages and contamination in these key areas.
A children’s therapy room and a gym are included within the newly developed facilities and for these areas Acoustix Forest fx PUR was chosen in American Oak. As areas that are likely to be bustling with activity, measures were taken to reduce the acoustic impact on the rest of the hospital. Acoustix Forest fx PUR has been specially developed to reduce impact sound within interiors, minimising the negative effects of noise on both patients and staff. With an impact sound reduction level of 19dB, the chosen floor covering will help to establish a comfortable acoustic environment, enhancing feelings of privacy, safety and wellbeing for all who work or access services within Cardigan ICC. In addition to the acoustic benefits, Acoustix Forest fx PUR hard wearing and the detailed wood design creates an attractive internal space that draws on the beauty of the natural environment.
When it came to the shower spaces within the ICC, the flooring needed to provide all the aesthetic appeal established in the rest of the centre, whilst also delivering exceptional safety performance in continually wet areas. Selected in Colorado and Tigris finishes, Hydro Evolve offered the perfect solution, as its carborundum-free composition with slip resistant particles and raised pimple embossing provides added grip and underfoot safety. This highly decorative flooring also fully conforms with HSE & UK Slip Group Guidelines and meets the requirements of the European Safety Flooring Standard - EN 13845, – assuring the safety of staff and patients through its sustainable wet slip resistance.
All the specified Polyflor floorcoverings achieve BRE A+ certification and provide an environmentally sound product choice, helping to create a healthier and more comfortable environment for the hospital’s staff and patients.
The vinyl’s resilience will ensure that Cardigan Integrated Care Centre remains looking its best for years to come and support its aims of delivering high-quality healthcare to the local community.
