A team of designers have sought to address concerns over privacy and dignity, with a range of solutions – from “bed pods” and screening systems, to a gown designed to spare patients’ blushes.
A survey of more than 2,000 nurses, conducted by the Royal College of Nursing in 2008, revealed that more than eight out of 10 nurses reported feeling “upset or distressed” because they were unable to provide the dignified care that they knew they should. There has been a concerted effort to address the issue of dignity in healthcare since these findings were first published – most notably with the drive for single-sex accommodation. However, despite the announcement from the Department of Health that 95% Trusts in England have “virtually eliminated” mixed sex accommodation, many challenges remain.
Patient-focused design
A recent initiative has sought to address some of these remaining barriers by inviting UK designers to develop innovative solutions to problems identified by patients and staff. Showcased at the Design Council, earlier this year, these included the following:
Log in or register FREE to read the rest
This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text.
If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
