A key aim of any healthcare service is to look after people when they are at their most vulnerable and to help them to return to normal health. Ever increasing pressure from rising demand in hospitals creates challenges with space and is a contributing factor to growing waiting lists. With any admission to hospital, there will be a period of recovery prior to discharge. Reducing the recovery period for patients allows them to return to normal life more quickly while freeing up resources in the hospital for other patients.
The role of lighting in healthcare should not be understated. The design of the lighting system can help to create a nurturing atmosphere that improves the ability of staff to provide high quality care while also reducing costs through improved efficiency.
There are multiple ways that lighting also contributes to reducing the length of hospital stays. Maximising the use of natural light in ward and recovery areas helps to improve patient mood, and contributes to better sleep, which both help with recovery.
Designing a lighting solution that provides the right levels of light to complement natural daylight helps to maintain patients’ circadian rhythms while also improving comfort for patients and helping staff to perform care tasks including observations and monitoring recovery.
When in recovery, a patient will spend most of their time on the ward. Whether in a shared space or private room, lighting plays a major role.
Flexible lighting systems cater to the different needs of patients. Tailored smart lighting allows patients to create a lighting scene that keeps them calm while allowing healthcare professionals to do their job.
The use of low glare lighting reduces discomfort for patients – particularly in ceilings above beds where patients are prone is important. This reduces discomfort and helps to reduce stress levels that could negatively affect patient wellbeing.
A variety of options are available as part of the lighting design scheme. The use of LED pods softens the lighting without reducing brightness. This can be combined with the use of suitable luminaires in different parts of the environment.
Sleeping in a hospital environment can be difficult for patients. Nighttime staff must be able to monitor patient health throughout their shifts and perform regular rounds that require additional lighting for observations. Individually controlled lighting with appropriate lighting levels as outlined in LG02 around each bay improves patient comfort and allows for activities such as reading, while dimmed lighting in corridors and surrounding areas when staff are not present helps to keep spaces safe while also reducing energy consumption when lights are not required.
During a stay in hospital, patients with an already weakened immune system are at risk of additional infections.
The IP rating of luminaires is important. IP65 ratings for luminaires mean that there is no dust ingress and that the unit can withstand low pressure water being directed onto it. This prevents the spread of pathogens and means that the light fittings can be cleaned as part of the overall regime in the patient area. The combination of IP65 rated luminaires with smart control systems to reduce the need for touching switches removes a potential path for infections to spread, reducing the chance of secondary infections that could delay recovery.
Speak to the specialist healthcare team at Whitecroft Lighting to learn more about how our systems can support patient recovery.
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