As the New Hospital Programme prepares to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030, the UK stands at a pivotal moment in healthcare design, says Laura Carrara-Cagni, founding director at architect firm Cagni Williams Associates. These facilities will serve communities for decades, making this a defining opportunity to revolutionise how healthcare environments support both patient recovery and staff wellbeing.
Central to this transformation is the integration of biophilic design (design that connects people with nature) principles that prioritise mental health and psychological wellness alongside clinical excellence. Stress in healthcare settings stems not only from experiences of suffering, illness or pain, but also from lack of privacy, exposure to unfamiliar or anxiety-inducing sounds, inadequate lighting and unpleasant odours. Such stressors can exacerbate anxiety and concern for health, leading to broader physiological effects. Fortunately, exposure to nature is proven to reduce stress.
Healthcare environments have long been sterile, institutional spaces that inadvertently contribute to stress and anxiety for both patients and staff. Research consistently demonstrates that exposure to natural elements can significantly reduce cortisol levels, lower blood pressure and accelerate healing processes.
For healthcare workers facing unprecedented burnout rates, and patients experiencing the vulnerability of illness, biophilic design offers evidence-based solutions that address mental health at the environmental level.
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