Single room, anyone?

Posted

Research

There has been lots of debate over many years about the extent to which hospitals should provide single rooms for patients. Should every patient have a single room for the sake of privacy? Would this help to reduce HCAI? And would it be safe even if it did? A recent review suggests that more single rooms equals less HCAI. The systematic review found that hospital wards with more single rooms had lower rates of HCAI. This makes sense: physical segregation of patients with infectious agents is an ancient approach to preventing transmission. However, whilst the evidence that single rooms reduces HCAI is compelling, there are other reasons why a mixture of single rooms and bays may be a better approach. Some patients benefit from the social aspects of communal bed-spaces. Also, when things go wrong, there is some evidence that patients in multi-occupancy bays are helped more quickly and have better outcomes. On the balance of this evidence, it may be that a mixture of single rooms and bays is the best design for a hospital of the future. The UK recommends at least 50% single rooms for new hospitals, which would seem a sensible approach based on the current evidence!

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Tags

Latest News

Products

GAMA Healthcare expands Rediroom fleet with additional order for Midlands Trust

GAMA Healthcare has secured an order for 8 more Redirooms,…

Products

News from the front line: GAMA Healthcare partners with leading Midlands Trust to enhance air quality across two sites

GAMA Healthcare is pleased to announce a significant investment from…

Company News

Celebrating 20 Years of GAMA Healthcare: Our Story

This month, GAMA Healthcare celebrates 20 years of helping prevent…

Research
Norovirus header

Norovirus: Understanding its transmission and prevention in the UK

Introduction Norovirus is recognised as the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis…