CONSTRUCTION
procurement form and becomes part of a project’s health legacy. If every public sector capital project applied a SDOH-based framework – using real local data to understand what communities genuinely need, targeting those needs in a sustained and meaningful way, and measuring actual outcomes rather than theoretical financial proxies – the impact would be both significant and long-lasting.
It would move social value away from short-term activity counts and toward interventions that genuinely shift the conditions that shape health in the long term: income, education, security, connection, and opportunity. And if that learning were openly shared across programmes and supply chains, each project would become part of a growing national evidence base, making it easier for others to adopt what works and avoid what does not. Instead of isolated success stories, we would see a consistent, system- wide approach to prevention built into every investment. The result would be healthier, more resilient communities – not just for the duration of a build, but for generations afterwards.
Designing buildings that promote health – not just treat illness A healthcare building can also influence behaviour – often in subtle ways that shape wellbeing long before a patient enters a clinic room. Access to nature, which has previously been seen as optional in healthcare builds, is proven to reduce stress, support immunity, and aid recovery, while outdoor spaces can promote gentle movement and connection for staff and visitors alike. Intuitive layouts that encourage walking, visible
stairs, and inviting circulation spaces help normalise activity as part of daily routines. Co-locating preventive and community services – such as financial wellbeing support, employment advice, or health coaching – brings practical, upstream interventions into the heart of care pathways. At the same time, trauma-informed design principles create calm, legible environments that reduce anxiety and make services more accessible. These choices are far from being ‘extras,’ they help position healthcare buildings as community health anchors that actively support prevention as part of their everyday function.
Above left: Digital systems create environments that actively prevent harm.
Above: The award- nominated The Brook at Langdon Hospital in Devon.
June 2026 Health Estate Journal 45
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