Innovative design and construction solutions for improved therapeutic healing environments

Healthcare facilities need to be designed as innovative healing environments that improve quality of care, aid the recovery process, promote therapeutic goals and improve operational efficiency. A £5 billion hospital development programme has been designated to develop new healthcare infrastructure and upgrade existing hospital facilities to meet increasing demands of healthcare across the UK. This main aim of this paper is to collate information on current developments and practice in relation to therapeutic environments. An extensive review of literature relating to current practice has been undertaken. Relationships between the physical environment and patient recovery have been investigated in order to assess the potential impact of healthcare built environments on the healing process. Critical factors which impact on the performance of a healthcare facility, such as building layout and stakeholder participation have been examined. The benefits from innovative design and construction solutions, along with the barriers to innovation, have been highlighted to identify the opportunities for improving the quality of healthcare provision.