Career takes off after aviation adventure

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Design
• Arts in Healthcare
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Hospital environments often lack spaces designed for bereavement.
• Bereaved families require supportive and comforting environments.
• Integrating art into healthcare settings can improve patient and visitor well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process of redesigning a Bereavement Suite and Sanctuary Space.
• To enhance solace and comfort for bereaved visitors and relatives.
• To showcase the impact of arts consultancy in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Collaboration between an arts consultancy (Willis Newson) and hospital teams.
• Commissioning artists to create specific designs for the spaces.
• Integrating the redesign within a larger hospital conversion and extension project.

Main Results:

• Redesigned Bereavement Suite and Sanctuary Space at Bristol Royal Infirmary.
• Improved environment intended to provide greater solace and comfort.
• Successful integration of arts and design into a clinical setting.

Conclusions:

• Arts-based interventions can positively impact the experience of bereaved individuals in hospitals.
• Collaborative design approaches are effective in healthcare settings.
• The redesign offers a model for creating more compassionate hospital spaces.