In your September 2005 edition, you were kind enough to publish something of a cri de coeur, from me which outlined some identified problems (for which we have proven solutions) that were not being addressed despite the massive investment in new healthcare premises.
I had expected a furious response in defence of the designers and consortia, outlining the strictures that prevent them making necessary changes in order to match “best practice”.
I was delighted to receive the November 2005 issue of HEJ which is full of material which demonstrates that the many design innovators, researchers and innovators which I sought are indeed extant and active.
Your comment “Dissertations on design” mirrors my own oft-expressed opinion that the isolation of patient from patient by way of the use of the single bed, en-suite room should be a given. (In France, this has been the norm for 10 years).
Since we know that the solutions to many current and developing problems are recognised and achievable, one wonders why the authorities put so much weight on “consumer opinion surveys”, which, after all are the views of the largely un-informed, and apparently refuse to acknowledge the contributions such as those in our journal?
Gordon Pidcock FIHEEM, Retired Member
