K101 Hospital as a place of care

Hospital is a social, physical & psychological environment
1. Physical - ward space mostly public, privacy only through curtains
2. Social - visiting time & space governed
3. Psychological - more private space would be comfortable & patient-centred, with access to a social area
Hospitals vary in design - some are more enabling than others
Staff are affected by the environment/conditions in which they work
1. Design impacts on nursing - employee fatigue related to layout of building.
  1. Higher staff morale better for patients
Involving patients & staff can lead to improvement in design
2013 survey - patients value privacy, respect & dignity
Example - Evelina Childrens Hospital
1. Designed to be friendly, colourful, welcoming & easy to understand. Full of light & engaging spaces.
  1. School in hospital.
2. Levels of privacy - single rooms, small wards, open plan atrium
  1. Atrium - space created for use by patients, family, staff & events
  2. Parents can stay with kids
3. Views & needs of staff & children taken into consideration for design & organisation of hospital
  1. Children consulted about design. Architect was a mother of child that stayed in hospital, Staff & clinicians consulted
4. For patients - Doesn't smell like a hospital, is bright & friendly, childs environment, seen as a playground, parents happy as kids are happy
  1. For staff - Great place to work, light space, not depressing, environment makes people friendlier

Resource summary

	Created by Hazel Mayger about 9 years ago