Monroe ITV medical drama

The six episode Monroe series, aired in March and April, focuses on Monroe, a neurosurgeon played by James Nesbitt, and the patients he comes into contact with. The programme’s hospital set, called “St Matthews Hospital,” is closely modelled on Leeds General Infirmary and it was imperative that real hospital furniture was used in the drama for authenticity.

ITV and Mammoth Screen first contacted us through our website by requesting a brochure. The production company was so impressed by the hospital furniture, in particular the nurse stations and hospital reception desks, that they asked if we would be willing to donate some items for the project.

The old derelict Grammar School in Leeds was converted for the set of ITV’s Monroe. The library became the hospital ward, the hall was ITU, the canteen was the lobby and corridors, and the gymnasium was the hospital theatre. It took nine weeks to convert the school before shooting began. Fifteen carpenters, ten painters, and various laser cutters, artists and electricians were involved in preparing the building to achieve the desired result.

We had previously supplied panelling for Shepperton Studios and donated a nurse station to Royal Marsden Hospital in Fulham, but the Monroe project was a much larger hospital installation, requiring us to manufacture furniture for the ITU, the hospital wards and operating theatre areas. Our Managing Director, Trevor Gillman, worked closely with Mammoth Screen to guide them on the furniture they would need, which included nurse stations, a “U” shaped desk, worktops, and storage units.

From receiving the complete details and drawings from Mammoth Screen, we had less than three weeks to manufacture and deliver the furniture to the studios in Leeds. We transported the items ready assembled and they were installed onsite by Mammoth Screen’s carpenters. To further add to the authenticity of the hospital set, the new fitted furniture was painted with scuff marks by Mammoth Screen’s art department. Every single item of hospital furniture we produced was used on the set of Monroe.

Mammoth Screen was delighted with the hospital furniture supplied by David Bailey. Anna Higginson, Production Designer, said:

“By producing high quality units to my own specification, David Bailey Furniture Systems has enabled me to complete the authenticity I hoped to achieve for the hospital sets on Monroe. The craftsmanship is impeccable, and the vast variety of colour and texture has meant that I was able to use the units to compose the colour palette of the sets in detail. I am hugely grateful to them for being able to produce the amount of furniture I needed in such a tight time scale, in order to be ready for the filming deadline.”

Trevor Gillman, who project-managed the furniture design and production, said:

“We are thrilled to have worked with Mammoth Screen for the ITV production. I enjoyed seeing our furniture in-situ on a site visit to the Monroe set, and a number of my colleagues followed the series to see our furniture on screen.”

Healthcare furniture by David Bailey

The fitted healthcare furniture we supply is manufactured at our factory in Broadstairs, Kent. We provide specialist, HTM 63 and HTM 71 compliant furniture and storage units, specialising in the healthcare and hospital market. We have installed fitted healthcare furniture to many UK hospitals, health centres, clinics and GP surgeries, including Guys & St. Thomas Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital. Architects and Contractors rely on us because they know we are well established and professional and our durable furniture is manufactured in Britain with craftsmanship and professionalism. We also install our furniture into a facility, so there is no need to ensure a contractor has installation instructions.

Supporting the NHS through the Coronavirus pandemic

Our factory has been operational throughout the Coronavirus pandemic and we have been able to support the NHS by responding quickly to orders for furniture at several facilities, including Peterborough City Hospital, Hillingdon Hospital, Royal Preston Hospital and also furniture for mobile CT scanner units in Hull.

Monroe healthcare furniture – where to find out more

Are you specifying fitted healthcare furniture for a healthcare facility or hospital? See short videos of our furniture being made and read testimonials from other architects, contractors and healthcare customers about working with us.

You can see our range of healthcare furniture here.

Or please get in touch with us to discuss a project. Or call us on 01843 604896.