HEALTHCARE FURNITURE
At the Royal Papworth Hospital, one of the many elements of Deanestor’s work was the fitting of over 1,600 integrated panel systems pre-fitted with basins or toilets. Deanestor supplied and installed furniture and fittings for over 1,600 rooms.
underpin the control of contaminant build-up in all patient contact areas. Access for cleaning has to be facilitated by the furniture design and the prevention of dirt traps. Finishes have to be both durable and easily cleaned, with no surface joints. The appearance of furniture should be attractive and non- institutional. Patient bedrooms are more than a space for a bed and medical equipment, but should rather promote healing, and give patients quiet respite that supports recovery.
Furniture that is attractive and well maintained creates a positive environment for patients, visitors, and staff. Designers and manufacturers of healthcare facilities are also looking to other sectors – such as hospitality – to influence and inform the design of spaces and products for patients. Privacy should also be considered when planning healthcare environments. It is possible to achieve a level of privacy and openness by using architectural wall solutions or mobile furniture to allow hospitals to accommodate each patient’s unique needs.
Enhancing the patient experience Colour, lighting, materials, and textures, can soften the clinical and institutional feel often associated with hospital
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By designing rooms that give patients quiet respite, their perspectives on care will considerably improve and help them to process the strains of the experience
environments. Comfortable surroundings have been shown to significantly enhance wellbeing and healing. By designing rooms that give patients quiet respite, their perspectives on care will considerably improve, and help them to process the strains of the experience. Good design should enable care co- ordination and information sharing. Patient-focused units also allow healthcare providers and clinicians to spend more time with patients, and less time manoeuvring equipment or retrieving supplies. Efficient solutions include patient room supply storage and mobile furniture to transport supplies for specialist procedures. During the
design phase, it is important to consider what can be put within reach of a patient to facilitate their safety, support, comfort, and empowerment.
Diverse needs
Understanding the diverse needs of the patient population can impact on furniture specification to enhance the overall patient experience. Families in children’s hospitals, for example, can spend long periods of time in the wards. Creating attractive, functional furniture with good storage and levels of comfort are key. Patients with dementia, meanwhile, may find it difficult to differentiate between items that are the same or a similar colour – for example furniture that is a similar colour to the floor and/or walls may blend in and affect the ability to use it safely. Using bright and contrasting colours for furniture and furnishings, or coloured edging, can help these patients to see things more easily.
Furniture used in mental health facilities demonstrates how a healthcare provider regards the patient, and the expected behaviours. Facilities are often conservative, and focus on the anti- ligature specifications in psychiatric care environments. However, there are also models of care which advocate more
Office furniture at the Royal Papworth Hospital. Right - furniture was also supplied to locations including operating theatres and cardiac catheterisation laboratories.
86 Health Estate Journal October 2020
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