The relationship between hospital reception and waiting area design and their appropriateness in use

The study investigates the relationship between design and use of the main reception and waiting area in hospitals. The investigation is based on the assumption that, via its effect on user attitudes, design influences appropriateness in use. This study was prompted by the availability of considerable evidence which suggested that hospital users were particularly dissatisfied with the design of reception and waiting areas in many hospitals. Compounding the problem is a lack of empirical studies examining the relationship between the design of main reception and waiting areas and appropriateness in use. The results obtained from a case study in National Health Service hospitals, designed to the Nucleus system, showed that neither the differences in the number of amenities, nor theiz physical size, nor the ‘proximity’ between the main reception and waiting area and other departmental reception and waiting areas, produced differences in their appropriateness in use. In practical architectural terms, it seems that neither the inclination to design compact forms for higher proximity, nor increasing the number and size of amenities (shops, banks, telephones, toilets, etc.) in the reception area, are likely to produce more satisfactory designs. The study identified that there was numerous variations in the type and format of design guidance produced by different governmental departments. It was also found that it was difficult to differentiate between the intricately related guidance, standards and measures for cost control and the different operational policies. It was found that although some of the- DHSS design guides are adopted in private hospitals, the operational policies and the underlying objectives (high occupancy, short stay, hotel type accomodation which contradicts the NHS concept of ‘health for all’ on which DHSS guides were based), influence the extent of use of these DHSS guides. Also, the design guides for Nucleus hospitals were found to be much more comprehensive and detailed than those available for the earlier hospitals, Greenwich, Best Buy and Harness. After a case study in a private hospital, it was found that several other factors, e.g. the lack of signposting, the attitude of reception staff in the point of entry, were considered in addition to the actual building in order to provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for the patients. The reasons why private hospitals place a more humanistic approach to the design of the main reception and waiting areas than those within the NHS, were identified. The study also found that the measurement by which the extent of appropriateness in use of the main reception and waiting area could be assessed, was complicated. The study indicated that there was no specific definition for the main reception and waiting area. The area was often defined in terms of its relationship to the out-patients department. Finally, the study identified that there were several other factors apart from the three main design variables which affected the user attitudes to the design of the reception and waiting area. However, the provision of some specific amenities affected the overall satisfaction with the use of the main reception and waiting area.

Grantor dc:publisher

Oxford Brookes University

Author dc:creator

• Amoah-Nyako, Joseph

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dixon, Roger
• Hanna, Raid Hermiz

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.24384/2aag-cc85

OAI identifier oai:identifier

tle:d82d7c41-8934-4b44-8113-adba4ab395ac:d6bd9758-527a-46cd-bfe2-c433766e8fca:1