Department Planning
Defining what each hospital department contains and how departments relate to one another.
Department planning decides what each clinical and support department will contain - its functions, rooms and spaces, staffing assumptions and the interfaces it has with other departments - before detailed layout work begins. The output is a department-level plan that space and layout planning can build on rather than a finished architectural layout.
What this service covers
- Department list and boundaries consistent with the agreed service mix and capacity
- Functions and activities assigned to each clinical and support department
- Rooms and spaces identified within each department at planning level
- Staffing and workflow assumptions for each department
- Adjacency guidance for outpatient, inpatient, diagnostic and support departments
- Emergency and critical care positioning for rapid and safe movement
- Support services mapping across pharmacy, kitchen, laundry, stores and CSSD
- Department load and sizing inputs passed to space planning
- Phasing of departments where the project is delivered in stages
- A planning document that feeds space and layout design
Our process
- Confirm the service mix and capacity the departments must support
- Define the department list, boundaries and key functions
- Establish department interfaces and adjacency principles
- Capture staffing and workflow assumptions per department
- Document the department plan and sizing inputs
- Hand the plan to space and layout planning for development
Frequently asked questions
How is department planning different from department layout planning?
Department planning defines what a department contains and how departments relate in principle. Layout planning develops the actual floor arrangement, circulation and room positioning.
How is it different from clinical area planning?
Clinical area planning develops the detailed functional content and environment for specific clinical areas. Department planning covers the complete set of clinical and support departments and their inter-relationships.
What do you need from the hospital?
The approved service mix and capacity plan, the expected staffing model, and any clinical preferences on how departments should relate to each other.
Which departments are covered?
All clinical departments such as outpatient, inpatient wards, ICU, operation theatres and diagnostics, and support departments including pharmacy, kitchen, laundry, stores and CSSD.
Can it be done with phased construction?
Yes - the department plan sequences departments across phases so early phases work independently and later phases integrate cleanly.