NHS Estates commissioned Intelligent Space Partnership to research the influence of building design on the care of patients in A&E departments. The findings of the research provide an evaluation of the key design issues faced in A&E departments and recommendations for future A&E design. The aims of the project were:

• Support guidance for the building of future departments;
• provide measures to evaluate planned A&E departments
• identify potential problems prior to the construction of new departments; and
• identify methods for post occupancy evaluation of departments.

Eight existing A&E departments were analysed as a basis for the research. Comprehensive surveys were carried out in each department to identify current use patterns. In addition, computer modelling was used to benchmark design characteristics such as visibility and surveillance. The role of the building design in the delivery of care at each stage of the patient's journey was analysed.