RAF Oakington Volume 2 - The Airfield Research Group

2.5 Sick Quarters (8)
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2.5.1 Introduction
The Scheme ‘M’ station sick quarters as built at Oakington is
similar in architectural treatment and internal layout to the
Scheme ‘L’ design of 1938, except that the parapet wall around
the perimeter of the roof is omitted. A major difference to the
earlier scheme is the design of decontamination annexe (10). As
before the sick quarters is connected by a corridor from the side
of the annexe which faces south-east.
The building is SW facing, covering two stories with a central main entrance porch and hall with
stairs to the floor above.
Associated with the sick quarters is the decontamination annexe (10) located at the rear of the
building, the decontamination centre (13) (now demolished) and the combined ambulance
shelter and mortuary (11) which is also demolished.
2.5.2 Ground Floor
From the hall are two corridors, the NW one giving access to an accident reception area,
kitchen, medical stores and medical NCO's office. The SE corridor gives access to a dental
surgery, a consulting room, medical inspection area, office, dispensary and a waiting room used
by personnel arriving via the decontamination annexe.
2.5.3 First Floor
Upstairs there is also a central longitudinal corridor. The rear half of the floor is entirely taken up
with ablutions and toilets, and the front half contains an airmen’s’ ward (four beds), orderly
room, observation ward (a single bed), and two separate single bed officers' wards.
2.5.4 Extension (Building 9)
At the end of 1943 and in keeping with sick quarters located on permanent RAF stations
elsewhere, an additional ward block and dental surgery was built against the NW end elevation
in temporary brick and Nissen construction. This work was carried out with reference to drawing
number 3250/43.
The extension consisted of a new entrance hall, connecting corridor, dental store and dental
surgery in temporary brick, and a 30 ft (9144) span Nissen hut arranged mainly as a 16 bed
ward but also having lavatories, bathroom, dirty linen store, ward equipment store, sluice room
and duty room. The brick part is extant.
2.5.5 Construction
External walls of the original building are 15 inch vented cavity brick with concrete beams
supporting a reinforced concrete slab roof. Windows were originally 12 pane timber casements
on the ground floor and 16 pane timber casements at first floor level. A post-war, link-detached
rendered brick extension (9) has been built against the NW side elevation which was the
entrance hall to the Nissen hut ward block.
2.5.6 Immigration Centre
Building 8 was derelict during the period of the Immigration Centre.
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