Evidence-based design of health care facilities

Abstract

The last 15 years have witnessed large investments in health care in the UK. These investments have been made with the aim of improving a system which was considered to be slow, inefficient and below international standards. A wide range of problems were experienced, among them unacceptable levels of health care associated infections and inappropriate work environments. Manifold initiatives were put in place to tackle such problems. Financially, the establishment of public– private partnerships, including the development of ways of procuring new buildings and equipment were introduced, generating much debate. The emergence of new technologies for diagnosis and treatment, and service reconfiguration were other important attempts at improving the quality of care. The principles of ‘lean production’ that had been developed for manufacturing industries were adopted in health care to make processes more efficient and consumer driven.

Keywords: Health care, United Kingdom, light, noise, temperature, humidity and air.