When I was young I had to visit the hospital where my father was admitted after a horrific accident. While trying to save a child who suddenly ran across the road, he had his leg caught in the wheel of his motorcycle. Cut a long story short, my father had to have about 21 operations to repair his broken leg. From that day on, and for a long time to come, I was petrified of the sight and smell of all things hospitals. Does this sound or feel familiar? I bet it strikes a chord with many of you.
The reason to share this incident from my personal life is to make a point. And that is – hospitals are a place where most of us dread visiting. Unless we are one of those who work there in one capacity or the other, reason to visit a hospital is either we are ill or someone we know is.
If hospitals are emotionally a scary place to visit, what if they actually are a dark, smelly, unclean and an unfriendly place as well? And how do we propose to help patients “get well soon” and get back on their feet as before?
Now that I have brought the perception of a typical potential hospital patient, what can we, as a designer, a builder, a decision maker do to make the hospital a welcoming place, a healing place!
I would suggest that one of the most safe, comfortable and private place is one’s own home. So the idea of making the clinical space as “homely” as possible, without compromising the clinical aspects of the service delivery, is not a bad one at all. But one does not spend all its time in the confines of its home and there are other activities that bring some pleasure in ones life and are also essential, such as shopping and socialising.
No wonder, then, that the contemporary hospital designs now focus on large shopping mall like glazed entrances complete with retail shops and seating areas. As much use of daylight in patient and staff areas as possible, not only by placing areas on external elevations but using sky-lights where possible for areas in the middle of the buildings. Research has proved that natural daylight plays an essential part in helping people recover faster.
Where daylight cannot be provided, designers use lighting, colour and art. Furnishing, interior design, use of space, patient entertainment systems, environmental conditions, trained and courteous staff, welfare facilities all play their individual part.
Cleanliness and control of infection is the next major item to be considered while designing the facilities. These include, but are not limited to:
- Coved skirtings
- Strategically placed wash hand basins, alcohol gels, and Dani-Centres (R)
- Easily cleanable floor, wall and ceiling materials and finishes
- Avoiding horizontal surfaces that will collect dust especially if these are higher than an average person, e.g. wall cupboards should either have sloping tops or should be joined up with the ceiling
- Avoiding nooks and corners that are difficult to reach and clean
- Using materials that can be washed, sterilised e.g. use of curtains vs. blinds
Today’s world is not the dis-jointed geographical areas of the centuries gone by. It is well connected, well educated and constantly strives to improve. Hospitals, staff equipment and procedures are all rapidly transforming to ensure one thing shortest possible time to return a patient to its healthy state!