Capital health : London's new health care estate / [NHS Capital Investment Unit for the London Strategic Health Authorities].

  • Great Britain. National Health Service
Date:
2005
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Capital health : London's new health care estate / [NHS Capital Investment Unit for the London Strategic Health Authorities]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Health care construction in London is happening at an unprecedented rate and scale. The need to modernise and replace obselete facilities is being matched by an inflow of public and private capital which is predicted to reach £7 billion over the next 10 years. Greater London has a growing population with particular needs both in terms of health care requirements and out of date premises. Potential sites are scarce and therefore much of the development is taking place in constrained surroundings. Often there is a desire to conserve heritage and a sense of place. These are civic buildings which create a sense of shared experience Wiali(curelauaalsmect-]aalsmdiaalomexe)aidg)el0}a|avoancomaa(-m0lb]0)|(om (-r-]ig0p Many new health care buildings are multi-functional and incorporate a diversity of related services. Redevelopment is happening at a time when the provision of health care is rapidly changing. Whilst there is still a role for the general purpose hospital, many of the less acute services are being devolved back towards 1dgiom (elor-|imexo)anlanlelaliavar-iaie mm aai>male)aal-mam (om e)ce\Ue(-m-1e improved patient-focused service, facilities which were previously separate are being merged in a single location. New clinical and day surgery methods are allowing procedures to be carried out without the need for an overnight stay. Health care is also about people and the NHS is the largest employer in the city. Teaching and medical research create an additional community from around by more members of the public than any other building types. During planning user consultation from clinical carers and nursing staff through to patients and the local community is-vital in the successful development of the service. . The total health care estate is huge and varied. At one end of the scale the large acute university hospital through to the general practice surgery at the other. Adding to the complexity there is also a growing complementary care and private sector. Mental health, once conveniently hidden within institutions on the boundaries of the city, has increasingly been brought closer to the community. There are also patients in a range of long term care facilities which have their the changing patterns of health care; to create environments which inherently make people feel better and to create pride in a health estate which is worthy