Called Redirooms, the units contain a special filter that removes droplets containing micro-organisms from the air. They’re stored in a compact wheeled cart, which can be taken to the wards where they are needed and assembled in around five minutes.

Shona Perkins, the hospital’s deputy director for infection prevention and control, says: “The Redirooms provide additional space to safely treat and isolate patients with coronavirus and other infections, such as the flu, mumps and meningitis. We’re also using them to treat patients who are suspected of having Covid-19 while the result of their test is processed.”

Previously, staff would use a side room to treat these types of patients, but the new units allow the side rooms to be kept free for patients with complex health conditions or patients who require extra protection from others.

“The safety of our staff and patients is of utmost importance to us and the Redirooms are in addition to the many extra steps we’ve taken in recent months to reduce the risk of Covid-19,” says Perkins.

“It’s understandable that our patients and their families are feeling anxious or concerned about attending their appointments but I want to reassure them that it’s safe to come to our hospitals and community sites.”

Further design measures in place at Evelina London to keep patients and staff safe include the installation of transparent acrylic screens from KwickScreen. These have been assembled on wards between bays to maintain social distancing.

Other procedural interventions include requiring all staff and visitors to sanitise their hands on entering the building and to follow government advice on wearing face coverings. More frequent cleaning is in place and rooms and equipment are thoroughly cleaned between appointments.

Only one parent or carer can accompany a child to their appointment, and there are gaps between appointments and fewer clinics running at the same time to limit the number of people in the building.

There are plans, too, for Redirooms to be made available for use at Guy’s Hospital and St Thomas’ Hospital, part of the same NHS trust as Evelina London.