Government provides scientific evidence of impact of the environment on clinical outcomes

The Government has announced it is to embark on a three-year programme aimed at providing long-awaited scientific evidence on the direct impact of the patient environment on clinical outcomes.

Peter Sellars, head of profession, estates and facilities management at the Department of Health, told delegates at the Healthcare Estates 2012 conference in Manchester this week that, while it was widely accepted that a well-designed environment could have a positive effect on patient wellbeing and recovery, firm evidence was needed to convince many sceptics and drive improvements across the board.

Design has a fundamental part to play in health and wellbeing and I think too many of our buildings have become like machines. They are not enough about the person and too much about the processes

And he revealed that he was currently putting together a panel of experts whose job it will be to carry out scientific studies into the issue to provide the evidence base needed.

He said: “We recognise the link between the built environment and clinical outcomes, but we need to do some intense research around this.

“At the moment there is an abundance of evidence, but not in scientific terms and we need to provide that.

“We are looking at a programme of between 1-3 years and we are already getting the people in place to do this work.

“The idea is to look at the impact of the clinical environment on clinical outcomes as the start of recognising healthcare estates and facilities as being an integral part of the healing process.

We have a lot of evidence about design, but we have not until now had the science to back it up. That is how we are going to be able to make our argument for good design in what is a particularly difficult economic climate and until we get it we won’t necessarily get everyone in healthcare to take notice

The news was supported by Sarah Waller, programme director of the Enhancing the Healing Environment project at The King’s Fund. She said: “I welcome the fact that the Government is trying to get the science bit together. We have a lot of evidence about design, but we have not until now had the science to back it up. That is how we are going to be able to make our argument for good design in what is a particularly difficult economic climate and until we get it we won’t necessarily get everyone in healthcare to take notice.”

John Cole, deputy secretary of the Health Estates Investment Group at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland, added: “The environment we are in affects us and buildings can do harm as well as good. A bad design can not only make you feel worse, but it can also increase the risk of infection and lead to poor sleep or poor observation.

“Design has a fundamental part to play in health and wellbeing and I think too many of our buildings have become like machines. They are not enough about the person and too much about the processes.

“Our healthcare buildings need to be safe and clean and fit for purpose, but they have to do more than that. They also have to contribute towards the healing process and there is huge potential to do that.”