Operating Theatre Design

2890 Words12 Pages
How does the general location and internal layout of the Operating Department influence patient care? The general location and internal layout of operating departments, whether inpatient or day case, need to adhere to national guidelines ensuring patient care is upheld (Woodhead & Fudge 2012). The location of the hospitals operating department is usually located where supporting service departments and services are accessible. Within larger hospital trusts this may not always be feasible to have all desired services adjacent to the operating department (Berry & Kohn 2013), central placing the operating department would then maximise access to facilities (Woodhead & Fudge 2012). The layout of the operating department itself and the route patients will use is determined by infection control, ensuring safety to both patients and practitioners (Barrow, C 2009). Patients usually follow the same route through the operating department; transfer to anaesthetic room, transfer to operating theatre, transfer to recovery unit (or intensive care unit if required) and then transferred to the ward (NHS Estates 2005). The operating department layout ensures patients are not exposed to unnecessary infection risks by being comprised of three zones (dirty, clean and sterile) (Barrow, C 2009), limiting air movement from human traffic whether patients or practitioners through these zones is “designed to reduce cross-contamination” (Woodhead & Fudge 2012). The layout of the surgical suite within the operating department is constructed to optimise patient care with efficiency of corridor lengths between sterile storage and operating room, material handling and personnel areas (Berry & Kohn 2013). How does the overall appearance of the Operating Department influence patient care delivery? “Cleanliness and control of infection are recognised as being some of the most
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