This space was once the hospital’s staff dining room, but after falling into disrepair, it had been closed off for many years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became a makeshift PPE store, and many of us found ourselves visiting it for the first time.

That’s when the idea took shape... could we bring it back to life as an Innovation Space? 

Somewhere practical, welcoming, and rooted in the real world, where anyone could come together to explore how best to support our staff and patients through these complex times.

Innovation Hubs can sometimes feel disconnected or exclusive. We wanted to do something different - focused on community, collaboration, and open to all. With support from sponsors, a few timely opportunities, and a lot of hard work, the old room was transformed.

We opened in July 2022 as an ICB-run Innovation Hub, available to anyone in the ICS, no matter who employs them, to collaborate and work together on how best to serve our patients and our teams.

Hear from our Hub Users!

“The last thing a cancer patient wants is to be in a clinical space. That is what makes The CO-LAB so important as it is welcoming and non- clinical. It’s a versatile space. It offers the confidentiality of a closed room for the HOPE course or a cosy sofa to have informal chats for post HOPE groups. It’s also so welcoming to be able to offer the participants a lovely hot drink – this makes it feel like home.”

– Angela Gillitt, Macmillan Information and Support Lead  

“The CO-LAB facilities provide a great space for the Patient and Public Forum to come together with key staff, for regular meetings face to face and as a hybrid meeting online. There’s no other space like it! These meetings focus on quality of care and the Patient Experience – we think of the Co-Lab as our home; an accessible space for all members to come together for the benefit of the local community.”

– Anna Stercks, WAHT Head of Patient, Carer and Public Engagement

“The Digital Senior Management Team has found The CO-LAB to be an invaluable resource since its inception. The welcoming atmosphere and inspiring environment provide a perfect escape from daily distractions. The light and airy space offers flexible areas for larger meetings in the main room and smaller group discussions in the open spaces. The pods are ideal for private Teams calls, especially on hybrid working days. External visitors have consistently praised The CO-LAB for its unique ambiance, excellent facilities, and refreshing departure from the hospital's clinical feel.” 

- Rebecca Brown, WAHT Chief Digital Information Officer