In the last of our weekly articles guiding you through the categories for the 2017 Building Better Healthcare Awards, we are providing an overview of the ever-popular Patient Environment class.
Attracting a high number of entries each year, the four awards up for grabs this year recognise best practice and innovation in the design of new and refurbished health and social care facilities across the UK and overseas.
In particular, the Patient Environment class looks at the impact interior, landscape design, and the arts can have on improving patient, visitor and staff wellbeing.
The Award for Best External Environment will be presented to an outstanding external space that enhances the overall experience of patients, staff and visitors through gardens, landscape, urbanscape or streetscape. Entries must involve projects that are completed and fully operational.
In previous years the category has attracted entries mostly dealing with the inclusion of landscaping in health and social care development projects. However, the judges will also welcome entries concerning external building works, artwork, and the improvement and creation of external areas such as carparks and public access points, including the provision of shelters and walkways.
Entries are welcomed from any health or social care provider, including, but not restricted to, hospitals, care homes, hospices, dementia care units, and prisons.
The judges will be looking for evidence of how the project enhances the patient, visitor and staff experience and sets a precedent for the design of future outdoor spaces. It must also be mindful of the location in which it is set, reflecting the topography and nature of the surroundings.
The recipient of last year’s award for Best External Environment was The Royal Bournemouth Hospital for its biodiversity and sustainable practices programme. Kentish Town Improvement Fund was highly commended for its innovative Well-Beeing Garden. Also commended was Earl Mountbatten Hospice for the Chelsea Garden.
The Award for Best Internal Environment will highlight an outstanding therapeutic space that enhances the overall experience of patients, staff and visitors through an effective approach to interior design. Entries can include, but are not restricted to, interior design, building refurbishments and alterations.
In this category, entries must show how the project respects the modesty, privacy and dignity of patients and visitors, creates a welcoming and attractive environment that lifts the spirits, and provides an inspirational sense of place and a therapeutic environment.
The 2016 winner in this category was Race Cottam Architects for St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield. LUSHER Architects was highly commended for the new Critical Care Unit at UCLH.
The last awards category in this class has this year been split into two for the second year. Due to the huge number of entries in previous years, the award recognising the contribution arts makes to the healing environment will be split into two – Static and Performance.
Both awards will recognise collaborative projects that have had a measurable positive impact on the patient and staff experience within a healthcare environment.
The judges will be looking for programmes that involve the healthcare provider, patients and other key stakeholders including local communities. All entries must show evidence of cross-party involvement.
Entries in this category must explain how the project improves the overall wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors, integrates the arts into the patient environment and/or patient treatment pathway, and encourages involvement among patients, staff and visitors.
The Award for Collaborative Arts Project (Performance) can include performance art, poetry writing, and music workshops; while the Award for Collaborative Arts Project (Static) is aimed at programmes that include paintings, murals, light installations, sculptures etc.
Sarah Waller, head judge for the Patient Environment class, said: “In each category the focus is on how the intervention improves and enhances the environment for patients, visitors and staff.
“We will expect to see testimonials from users and clinical representatives, and will want to see evidence of the involvement of key stakeholders in the design process.”
Jo Makosinski, editor of Building Better Healthcare and organiser of the awards, added: “When completing entry forms, it is vital you explain clearly how the development meets each of the bulletpoints set out in the judging criteria, and that images enable the judges to picture the project in its entirety.
“It is important that the entry is completed by a senior member of the team as they are in the best position to describe the benefits and the thinking behind the project.
“In addition, entries need to be clearly written and succinct; dealing only with the details and impact of the development and how it will demonstrate improvements on what is currently available.
“This should be supported by genuine comments from clinicians, patients and other service users.
“If these guidelines are followed then the judges will have sufficient information on which to make an informed decision. If any of this information is lacking, then it could mean projects not getting through to the final stages of judging.”
Click here for more details of the awards.
