England’s imminent hospital construction drive must be guided by those in the thick of the action
The UK Government recently revealed its New Hospital Programme which will see the introduction of 40 new hospitals in England by 2030. During the fast and intensive build phase, it is vital that healthcare professionals are engaged with to ensure fit for purpose facilities long beyond that deadline.
Each new facility will comprise operating theatres, wards, specific departments and patient-centric rooms. Nobody knows these surroundings better than the experts who work in them each day. These professionals will also know the struggles and challenges of existing builds and equipment. They are perfectly placed, therefore, to guide the next generation of hospitals in the UK.
Architects and construction specialists must be willing to interact with healthcare professionals to tap into this knowledge and produce the best facilities possible.
A collaborative approach to collaborative spaces
Facility planning relies on collaboration, and it is also collaboration that architects should keep in mind when designing new hospitals, or refurbishing existing ones. Collaborative spaces expedite workflows, interactions and patient discussions.
When engaging with a healthcare professional prior to a build or refurbishment, it is important to discover how these interactions and workflows are currently limited, or how they could be improved.
Clinically, an optimised design of clinical spaces helps with infection control, with patient movements, with patient recoveries, and with the preservation of clinicians themselves.
Healthcare architects, estates and facilities managers, and designers should turn to the people in the eye of the storm, to hear how they would best like to be protected within it.
Optimum design decisions
The ultimate aim of any healthcare facility is to ensure positive patient outcomes. Designing clinical spaces in a way that makes processes smooth, that speeds up care with reduced error, and that is inclusive of modern equipment and technologies, all contribute to these positive outcomes.
MIG Medical adopts a similar, patient-centric mindset and always looks to include healthcare professionals during the design phase of a new or upgraded facility. Adopting a turnkey strategy then ensures that all requests and preferences are catered for in a customisable way.
In return, we offer our insight and more-than 40 years of experience, to – collaboratively – reach an optimum design decision.
This approach has led to the successful completion of numerous wards and operating theatres in particular, with surgeons and clinicians offering their inputs prior to the build.
A long-term collaborative relationship
At North Devon District Hospital, we recommended the technical specifications and internal systems that would make its operating theatre refurbishment fit for purpose. The healthcare professionals involved guided MIG to create a space that would be effective for both them and their patients.
The process involved the stripping out of existing theatre equipment before installing a full medical gas supply and providing a clinical fit-out for the chosen, bespoke operating theatre area.
Marsh Pullen, Capital Contracts Manager at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “We rely on MIG’s healthcare expertise to ensure our facilities are delivered to an exceptional standard with minimal fuss and great value… They bring a fantastic attitude to every job and we know they have the knowledge to help us with any challenges that may arise.”
Proof of a successful collaboration is being invited back, and this was MIG’s second project commissioned at North Devon Hospital. For further information on how we can form a long-term, collaborative relationship with you, please reach out to a member of our team.
