Project overview
QuietStar worked with the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust to design and install a new adult audiology facility at Lister Hospital in Stevenage, replacing four outdated testing areas (two large rooms and two small booths) with three fully bespoke adult diagnostic test booths and observation lobbies.
The installation included acoustic doors, fire-rated acoustic enclosures, filtered air conditioning, and dedicated cable passageways for diagnostic equipment. Every element was designed and installed to meet ISO and British Society of Audiology (BSA) standards for clinical accuracy and patient safety.
Delivered as part of a wider capital investment programme, this project forms a cornerstone of the Trust’s efforts to restore NHS England compliance and enhance both diagnostic quality and patient experience.
The Brief
When Dawn Bramham, Audiology Lead at the Trust, joined in 2024, she identified that facilities across multiple sites were no longer fit for purpose, directly affecting the accuracy of diagnostics and patient comfort.
The Lister Hospital site was prioritised for urgent improvement. The project aimed to:
Replace the existing facilities with modern, compliant, and comfortable testing environments.
Support adult ENT and diagnostic services by improving acoustic control and workflow.
Enable the Trust to rejoin NHS England’s live care pools, from which it had been paused due to quality issues.
QuietStar was selected for its specialist design capability, strong NHS experience, and long-standing relationship with the audiology lead, built over three decades of collaboration
Our Approach
QuietStar partnered closely with the Trust’s incumbent contractor, R&B Construction, and the architectural team to ensure a seamless design-and-build process within the operational hospital environment.
The project included:
Removal and safe disposal of the previous four test areas.
Design and build of three bespoke diagnostic booths and control rooms.
Integration of filtered air conditioning, specialist acoustic and fire-rated doors, and acoustically treated wall and ceiling systems.
Precision calibration testing by acoustic consultant Richard Lord to ensure full diagnostic compliance.
Ongoing coordination with hospital facilities and R&B during demolition and rebuild to meet strict safety and infection control standards.
Despite unforeseen site challenges, such as buried infrastructure and design modifications, the project was completed on time and within NHS capital funding deadlines
The Results
Diagnostic sound isolation validated via independent calibration testing
Significant improvement in staff ergonomics, air quality, and patient comfort
Trust facilities now meeting NHS England quality criteria, supporting re-entry into live care pools
Dawn praised QuietStar’s responsiveness, design quality, and collaborative approach, noting that “everybody wins — the staff, the patients, and the Trust”
Lessons Learned
Early collaboration between QuietStar, R&B, and architectural teams was crucial to managing tight capital deadlines.
Ensuring clear communication between clinical, construction, and design teams reduced delays and avoided misalignment on-site.
The project demonstrated the value of specialist acoustic expertise over generic construction solutions, ensuring true clinical compliance and diagnostic precision.
Next Steps
Following the success of this phase, the Trust has appointed QuietStar for the next phase of works at Lister Hospital — the Audiology Hub — which will include three paediatric suites and five semi-mobile diagnostic booths, continuing the modernisation of its audiology service and commitment to excellence
