Nuffield Hospital – North London, Enfield

BACKGROUND: North London Nuffield Hospital in Enfield is a well-established private healthcare facility offering a wide range of specialist treatments, surgical procedures and outpatient services. As demand for healthcare services continues to grow, the hospital identified an opportunity to optimise the use of its existing building space by converting a previously unused internal area into additional day-care rooms.

Creating a comfortable, calming environment for patients was a priority. However, the space lacked access to natural daylight, which is widely recognised as an important factor in patient wellbeing, recovery experience and overall satisfaction within healthcare environments.

CHALLENGE: The proposed day-care rooms were located internally, meaning traditional windows or skylights were not feasible. Introducing natural daylight required a solution capable of transporting light efficiently from roof level into interior clinical spaces without major structural disruption.

In addition to technical requirements, patient comfort was a key consideration. While many patients benefit from access to natural daylight, clinical environments often require flexibility to adjust light levels depending on treatment needs, recovery conditions or personal preference. The solution therefore needed to combine daylight performance with controllability.

SOLUTION: Solatube Daylighting Systems were selected for their proven ability to deliver high-quality natural daylight into internal spaces where conventional glazing solutions are not possible. The project incorporated 10 Solatube 330 DS Daylighting Systems, designed to channel daylight efficiently from roof level into the newly created day-care rooms.

To further enhance patient comfort and usability, the systems were fitted with electric daylight dimmers operated via remote control. This allowed patients and staff to adjust daylight levels as required, ensuring both access to natural light and the flexibility expected within modern healthcare facilities.

RESULTS: The installation transformed the previously unused internal space into bright, welcoming and functional day-care rooms that support both patient comfort and staff working conditions. Natural daylight has contributed to a calmer, more pleasant clinical environment while reducing reliance on artificial lighting during daytime hours.

Feedback from staff and patients has been positive, particularly regarding the improved quality of the space and the ability to control daylight levels. The success of the project has also prompted consideration of similar daylighting solutions across other Nuffield healthcare facilities.

CONCLUSION: This project demonstrates how Solatube daylighting solutions can enhance healthcare environments by introducing natural light into internal spaces while maintaining flexibility and control for patient comfort.

By combining performance, energy efficiency and user-focused design, the installation has improved the usability of existing hospital space and contributed to a more positive patient experience.

It highlights the growing importance of daylighting in healthcare design, supporting wellbeing, operational efficiency and sustainable building strategies.