The patient’s perspective: we all want private hospital rooms
BMJ 2013; 347 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f5828 (Published 25 September 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f5828
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The justin fadipe centre of which I'm proprietor has a mix of single and shared rooms, the relative uses of which are often determined by host of factors sometimes non-concordant in influence:
A. Economic
B Nosocomial
C. Staffing
D. Patient's preference
E. Illness factors (other than infection related)
F. Age
G. Dependency
H. Availability (what is available at a particular time)
I. Family (spouse, child, personal assistants etc)
J. Space (need to be able to continue own work even as one lies on hospital bed.eg student or bureaucrat)
K. Security
Rarely do the choice influences exerted by these different factors point in same direction all the time the pt who can afford a single room may be too sick to stay anywhere but an intensive care setting. The pt who desires shared room for any reason may have microbiological status compelling single room or a psychiatric case with security implications for self and others may be best in unique circumstances etc etc.
The optimal situation therefore may be availability of options with transparent protocols in decision making regarding type of accommodation.
Nothing can be inflexible put in place under current state of play in hospitals or clinical care.
My best hospital will be one with choices
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: The patient’s perspective: we all want private hospital rooms
I absolutely agree with the comment that "we should consider...how each of us would like best to be treated in hospital." Why then does Ms Berry wish to impose her own (very reasonable) views on those of us who feel that the benefits of company in most circumstances outweigh the disadvantages?
Chris Isles' survey showed that only half of patients who had experienced a stay in a single room wanted to return to one if readmitted. Why is Ms Berry so keen to deprive these patients, myself includred, of their choice? Clearly there are circumstances, such as she describes, when it would be unreasonable for a patient to be in a room with others and choice therefore witheld. But with a suitable mix of shared and private rooms infection can be adequately controlled and all patients have their preference.
Competing interests: No competing interests