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THE BRIEF
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital is a key part of the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. Located in Margate, Kent, the hospital serves a large coastal population across East Kent. Originally opened in 1930 as the Margate and District General Hospital, the site has undergone numerous expansions and refurbishments over the decades. It was renamed in honour of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1996.
The hospital provides essential services including emergency care, maternity, surgery, and general medical treatment. As a live and busy NHS site with ageing infrastructure, many of its buildings and services require upgrades. There is ongoing regeneration and redevelopment across various departments. The means accurate and detailed spatial data is essential to support safe planning and delivery.
In support of this, QEQM required high-quality survey information to assist architects, contractors, engineers, and planners. The hospital environment presents unique challenges due to its complexity, scale, and continuous operation. Reliable data would help facilitate improvements while maintaining patient care and staff safety at all times.
OUR WORK
Spatial Dimensions has been working at QEQM Hospital since 2020. We continue to visit the site regularly. Our team carries out surveys around the day-to-day operations of the hospital. Before visiting, our project management and survey teams talk extensively about how to minimise disruption to patients and staff.
Over the years, we have delivered a wide range of survey services. These include topographical surveys, underground utility surveys, and laser scanning measured building surveys. All surveys were planned and delivered with patient care in mind.
Our underground utility surveys created desktop utility searches and detailed 2D underground mapping information. Laser-scanned information from point cloud data was used to create 2D floor plans and elevations as well as 3D Revit models at level of detail (LOD) 3. This survey information greatly supported the design teams. This means architects, contractors and engineers can plan upgrades with confidence.
Our team works closely with site managers and NHS staff to ensure safe, flexible working practices. Surveys are often scheduled around quiet times or conducted out-of-hours to reduce disruption.
BENEFITS FOR QEQM
- Supported Regeneration Projects: Enabled precise planning for upgrades across emergency care, maternity, and critical infrastructure areas.
- Improved Design Accuracy: Provided architects and engineers with reliable 2D and 3D data for confident design and coordination.
- Minimised Disruption: Helped plan work around hospital operations, reducing risk to patients and staff.
- Enhanced Safety and Compliance: Identified underground utilities and structural details to support safe construction and maintenance.
- Enabled Future Planning: Created a trusted digital record to support long-term estate management and development.
THE OUTCOME
Spatial Dimensions continues to support QEQM Hospital with survey work on a regular basis. Our data has played a major role in the regeneration of key areas across the hospital. These include the roof structure, generator compounds, emergency care, and maternity departments.
The surveys have provided accurate and reliable information to assist with design, compliance, and construction. Our ongoing work supports the hospital’s mission to maintain and improve vital healthcare facilities for the local community.
Credit – BBC South East
