project: Design for Patient Dignity

DESIGN COUNCIL STATEMENT

Design for Patient Dignity has challenged top British designers and architects to work with the NHS to improve the experience of patients in hospital.

The Department of Health has teamed up with the Design Council to bring together some of the best minds in the design industry with those working on the frontline in the NHS.

Design for Patient Dignity is run by the Design Council on behalf of the Department of Health.

The project follows the success of Design Bugs Out, where the Design Council and the Department of Health worked together and in a similar way challenged designers and manufacturers to develop new hospital furniture and equipment that would be easier to clean and encourage improved hygiene - reducing patients’ exposure to healthcare associated infections such as MRSA. The prototypes, launched in April this year, will be entering hospitals in early 2010.

Six teams of leading UK product, interiors, fashion and systems designers, architects and manufacturers have been appointed to work on an exciting range of briefs that will help to improve the hospital environment and patient experience. The work follows extensive research into what issues matter most to patients, staff and experts and will focus on:

§- New ward layouts

§- New products which help provide greater privacy for patients within the ward

§- New patient gowns which improve patient dignity

§- More dignified toileting and washing facilities

§- New ways of improving the physical and emotional security of patients being transferred within hospitals

The teams are working intensively with patients, experts, hospital staff and others to make some of their ideas a reality and to develop prototypes, which will be unveiled in March 2010, with the aim of introducing the designs into hospitals by early 2011.

'As a nurse, I know that patients expect and deserve not only high quality, safe and effective care, but a dignified experience when they go into hospital. The Design for Patient Dignity Programme is a groundbreaking initiative – it provides an opportunity for designers and manufacturers in the UK and those working at the frontline of patient care to work together to help improve the patient experience, as well as boosting industry investment and jobs in the UK. We want to ensure that patients’ experience of the NHS goes from good to great and that is why we are looking to improve privacy and dignity for patients in innovative ways.‘ Ann Keen, Health Minister

CAPSULE: WC & Shower

A deployable modular pod

PROBLEM

§Current Toilets are badly designed, dusty and are not hygienic

§Often not located in the right place

§Contravenes the issues of separation of Male and Female Sexes

§Often not enough WC facilities per Ward

SOLUTION

§A complimentary deployable WC and Shower unit

§Rapidly installed to improve environment immediately

§Improves patient experience – adding efficiently more facilities

§Usable to create separation of sexes

KEY FEATURES

Free Standing, deployable, modular temporary solution to alleviate immediate problems, effectively and efficiently.

§EASY - Ease of Installation – “Plug and Play”, no specialist skills

§SPEED – Rapidly deployable

§FLEXIBLE – A modular solution that can be used in a variety of scenarios

§QUALITY – manufactured off-site in safe factory environment, ensuring high quality construction

§FREE STANDING: Option to be “utility free” i.e does not connect to existing utilities i.e. water and sewage

§TESTED TECHNOLOGIES - Uses tried and tested technologies adopted from naval and automotive industries

§HYGENIC - “Deep” Cleaning: because of being moveable can be extensively cleaned off-site

§OTHER USES - Opportunities to be used in other environments (e.g. Schools, Airports, Hotels, Events etc.)

SCENARIO 01: Creating an efficient ward environment by:

§NEW SPACES: "loosening up” space to allow for other uses, such as a dignity space

§RENOVATION: Temporarily installed to renovate existing toilet and washroom facilities

§MALE & FEMALE SEPERATION: creating dignity to separate sexes, by being a flexible modular solution

SCENARIO 02: OUTBREAK: e.g. an outbreak of “Winter Diarrhoea and Vomiting”

§QUICK: Quickly deployable, so only part of a ward needs to be kept closed off.

§HYGIENIC: guaranteed clean and hygienic to avoid further spread

Credits
DESIGN & CONCEPT: Azhar Architecture

MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE: Grant Westfield

EXPERTISE
Max Fordham (Engineering)
Richard Burton, RIBA, Architect (Design review)

RAPID PROTOTYPES: DMC London, UCL
MODEL: Berry Place Models

DESIGN COUNCIL: Chris Howroyd (Project Manager), Filiz Ciftci (Design Dev. Programme Coordinator), Saskia Sissons (Press Office)
PHOTOGRAPHY: Ed Sykes (For Design Council)

Azhar Architecture is a multidisciplinary architecture and design consultancy. We are a registered RIBA [Royal Institute of British Architects] Chartered Practice.
We create and provide integrated architecture and engineering solutions for the built environment, which are, bespoke, intelligent and creative, to create a sustainable and beautiful future.
Our core belief is in a holistic approach of sharing knowledge and expertise across disciplines in order to deliver the highest quality effective design.
We believe in "more content", "more responsibility" and "more beauty" , concerned with the effect on the environment by creating solutions that are cost effective, socially responsible and also contribute at a cultural level.
We are passionate about our commitment to quality, innovation and truly sustainable developments.
We work internationally and bring expertise from the belief in architecture as a convergence of Practice, Education, Industry and Research.
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