How to put the patient first with healthcare furniture

Equipping a healthcare facility is no easy task. Whether it’s a small clinic or GP’s office, or a much larger hospital, there are many things to consider. Every item that’s installed needs to be of the highest quality because it needs to create a calm, comforting and overall healing environment for everyone visiting it. While different facilities will have different needs, there are some universal needs in common, with one at the top of that list being furniture. The choice in healthcare furniture goes a long way to show that a facility cares for even the most basic needs of its patients. In this article we take a look at how to put the patient first with healthcare furniture.

Comfort

Comfort is perhaps the most important thing in healthcare furniture. People generally don’t like to be sitting in a waiting room and it can often be the case that they’ll be sat there a while, so if the furniture is uncomfortable, there’s no way for the person to be relaxed. Comfortable seating improves patient experience, as well as how the facility as a whole is perceived. It’s not just patients who will see the benefits of this, but the staff too – creating a more relaxed atmosphere for everyone.

Visuals

We’ve talked before about the role of colour in creating a more healing environment, but there’s the overall design to consider too. It’s often the choice to go for something which is easy on the eyes in terms of design. This doesn’t mean that it has to be simple, but something that immediately looks comfortable will help maximise its effect on people. Once a design has been chosen, there’s scope to create something more unique while focusing on a specific mood to invoke.

Longevity

In healthcare, the promotion of strength is key in helping people physically and mentally through any kind of affliction, so installing furniture that lasts is a good way to do this. Look for a manufacturer that has proven durability with their items. It’s likely that different needs will have to be accommodated for, so choose items which can hold more weight, as well as more flexible pieces, which can be used by children and adults alike.

Put the patient first – where to find out more

At David Bailey Furniture Systems, we have been manufacturing fitted furniture for the hospital and other healthcare environments for over 35 years. Our factory is in Broadstairs, Kent in the UK and we have provided furniture for many NHS hospitals and private hospitals, including Wexham Park, Guy’s & St Thomas’, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Spire Hospitals and University College London Hospital (UCLH), as well as many regional hospitals around England and Wales.

Visit our Hospital Furniture page to find out more. Or get in touch to find out how we can help if you’re an architect specifying furniture for a hospital or other healthcare environment or a contractor looking for a reliable and quality manufacturer of hospital furniture.