The move towards 100% single bedrooms in an acute hospital ward setting is a major shift affecting clinical practice, workforce planning and support functions. Commissioned partly by the Department of Health (DoH) to aid research as part of HBN04_01 ‘Adult In-patient Facilities’ and Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, this project is part of the new Bevan Ward relocation focusing on single bedroom occupation. 

Three differently configured wings, housing 24 bedrooms with separate ensuites, were designed informed by the latest evidence from the United States. This helped ensure the Ward was an advanced prototype resulting in increased visual observation of patients, reduced nurse walking and fatigue, and empowerment of staff to communicate better with patients.

Results indicated that despite 87% not feeling isolated and 92% preferring a single room for a future admission, there remained patients who had concerns about the single room’s lack of socialisation. Three subsequent studies on socialisation factors in acute ward settings have reinforced this finding and social areas are likely to be included in all new design proposals for this Hospital Trust.