A STATE-OF-THE-ART lighting system that mimics day and night will help create an oasis of calm for patients at a new £4.75 million intensive care unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary when it opens in autumn.

Architects behind the critical care unit which will have 16 single bed spaces, including two full isolation suites, say the high-tech lighting will help the healing process.

The idea is it will synchronise patients' body clocks with the natural rhythms of the day providing a warm, blue light in the morning to stimulate patients when waking and then a red hue light at night to relax patients and get them ready for sleep.

Patients will also be able to change the light in their room to any colour they like which means they are able to have some control of their own in a place where almost everything else is controlled for them, said Dr Richard Davidson, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia and Clinical Lead for Theatres and Critical Care.

He added: “The new intensive care unit has been designed with one simple vision, to provide an environment where the Clinical Team can deliver the best possible patient experience and care.

“This has been achieved through extensive consultation with the Clinical Staff, gaining a thorough understanding of how they deliver care, and Bridger Carr’s passion for designing a therapeutic healing environment. Each room is designed to be an oasis of calm.”

Architects Andy Bridger and Deborah Carr have also designed a new intensive care unit at Sunderland Royal hospital.

Each of the 16 rooms in the unit at BRI has been designed for one-to-one specialist care with glass around two sides which can change from frosted to clear at a flick of a switch.

As well as giving privacy and dignity, the glass will help keep out infection and means nursing staff can have clear, uninterrupted views without needing to go into the room and disturb the patient.

The bedrooms have all been grouped together in four bed clusters so intensive care staff can work in teams and not feel as isolated as they would sometimes when working in single rooms and maintenance teams will also be able to get into the individual rooms without affecting the other bed spaces causing less disruption.

Among other innovative fittings and fixtures are fluid disposal units in each bedroom so patient washing water does not need to be carried through the whole critical care ward, cutting the risk of spillages and cross infection.

There are also pass through bins so that cleaners can empty them without having to go in.

The unit is part of the hospital's new wing which is under construction at the cost of £28 million.