Good morning all,
In the last week of Backlog Maintenance Month I would like to return to the two polls that I put out. The first, on Day 3, I asked simply - “How important is the environment to the recovery of patients?”. The results show a resounding 99% of people stating that the environment is Important or Very important.
This result is backed up by research undertaken in the 1980’s. A Professor of Architecture, Roger S. Ulrich undertook a groundbreaking study to see whether the view a patient has affects their recovery.
The resultant paper "View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery" explores the relationship between natural views and patient recovery. The study was conducted in a Pennsylvania hospital and compared two groups of post-surgical patients recovering from gallbladder removal. One group had hospital rooms with windows overlooking a natural scene (trees), while the other group had rooms with windows facing a brick wall. The study had four key findings:
Faster Recovery: Patients with a view of nature had shorter postoperative hospital stays compared to those with a view of a wall.
Fewer Complications: These patients also experienced fewer minor complications, such as headaches or nausea.
Reduced Pain Medication: Patients with a natural view required less potent pain medication, suggesting they experienced less pain or discomfort.
Better Overall Mood: Nursing staff reported these patients were in a better mood, requiring less attention for negative behaviours like anxiety or depression.
Ulrich's research supports the idea that natural environments have a restorative effect, highlighting the importance of design in healthcare. Access to nature, even through a window, can significantly enhance patient well-being and speed up recovery. So imagine the impact on a patient when staring at a stained ceiling tile from a flood the night before, or peeling paint, or, or, or….
The second poll looked at the seven recommendations of the Lord Darzi report and asked "Which are the most and least important to focus on?". While “Reform to make the structure deliver” was the top response, I was surprised that “locking in care closer to home” was one of the least popular options. Is this because we have been discussing ‘care in the community’ for many years without any success?
While people are right, that there does need to be reform to ensure the NHS remains both good value for the tax payer, and delivering the clinical services where they are needed, some of the reform needed may be unpalatable to many. The report cites that we have had a significant growth in doctors and nurses, when managers and infrastructure has been disinvested in. Changing this will ultimately mean a re-balance. Is the country willing to accept fewer clinical staff for more mangers?
Thank you to everyone that took part in the two polls. Your input is very insightful and supportive of my research.
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