Infection control, ease of maintenance, and aesthetics were key to the specification of wall protection solutions for the redevelopment of East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre.

Gradus has supplied and installed a range of products with the aim of creating an engaging, child-friendly atmosphere while also making the building interior more hygienic, easier to clean, and cheaper to maintain.

The relocation of the centre forms the first stage of a two-phase construction project to create a dedicated children’s hospital on the Leicester Royal Infirmary site.

And the Gradus products installed include the company’s SureProtect Design wall cladding, finished with a bespoke printed design that shows a cartoon solar system.

Additional protection

As well as lending the corridors a diverting feel that contrasts with the wider hospital environment, the bespoke design is printed onto the back of a clear textured sheet.

This means the cladding is easy to clean and features a textured surface to conceal the effects of impact and abrasion.

Elsewhere in the hospital, Gradus installed its SureProtect Endure protective wall cladding, an especially-durable layer of wall protection that is through-coloured and textured so surface damage does not show.

It’s so important that the children who use our facility feel happy and at ease and the use of the cladding has been a key element in the interior design and creating our fun space theme

Standard corner guards have also been installed, offering a cost-effective solution to protect vulnerable corners, as well as door frame protectors, also made from SureProtect Endure.

Mitch Dean, national sales manager at Gradus, said: “As this was a children’s hospital setting, a fun and colourful design was needed to create a tone that would engage children in a way that standard clinical environments do not.

“As with any hospital, the customer also needed a variety of more-subtle wall protection solutions that would help to keep the building presentable and reduce maintenance costs in the long term.”

Gillian Cairns, capital projects manager at Leicester Royal Infirmary, added: “We are very pleased with the wall protection – especially the wall cladding, which looks fantastic and is exactly what we were after.

Quality of care

“It’s so important that the children who use our facility feel happy and at ease and the use of the cladding has been a key element in the interior design and creating our fun space theme.

“The Gradus products provide an easy, clean solution, and good protection to our walls and doors, and they will reduce damage and save us time and money on future maintenance.

“The products will also help to keep the building looking good, which is vital as wear and tear can impact patients’ confidence in the quality of care.”