Macmillan Palliative Care Unit, Antrim Area Hospital

Doran Consulting provided the civil and structural engineering design services for this new unit which provided the first ever specialist palliative care beds available from the NHS in Northern Ireland.

The unit was constructed on the Antrim Area Hospital site and has 12 en suite bedrooms accommodating adult patients with complex specialist palliative care needs, a private patio area, a day room, a quiet room, 3 consulting rooms and overnight accommodation facilities for relatives. Other areas included in the new-build unit are an outpatient day service for those who do not need to stay and an education and staff training area. The structural design of the building consisted of a braced steel frame supported on traditional pad and strip foundations.

The focus of the unit is to provide holistic care through a range of services, including expert clinical assessment and symptom management, emotional and social support, practical help, complementary therapies and respite care in a comfortable and caring environment.