How important are hospital toilets, International healthcare building developments, Global architecture guide
How important are hospital toilets?
24 October 2024
Wherever the location, ensuring toilets are clean and sanitary should always be high on the priority list.
That said, there are surely few locations where the need is as fundamental as within a hospital setting.
Catering for a diverse demographic, with full waiting rooms, busy wards, visitors and patients with compromised immune systems, complex mobility issues and a wide spectrum of medical illnesses and disabilities, the importance of ongoing infection control within hospital toilet cubicles is paramount.
Luckily, it can also be relatively easy.
Here we take a look at some of the most important considerations to ensure hospital toilets are of the highest standards.
Considerations for hospital toilets
· Infection control
Perhaps the most crucial concern for hospital toilets is for them to be clean and sanitary in order to support effective infection control and prevent the spread of illness.
There are numerous ways this can be achieved.
First and foremost, routine, regular and thorough cleaning is essential. Yet so too is the design of hospital toilets.
Using IPS panels and vanity units to conceal pipework and wall-hung toilets can not only reduce the number of dirt traps for grime and germs to accumu
· Privacy and dignity
Young or old, it’s important all hospital patients and visitors are treated with dignity and respect.
Providing toilets that promote independence and can be securely locked and unlocked, is central to the comfort and confidence of the user.
· Supports diverse needs
Few environments will encounter a more diverse range of visitors than a hospital, making it a necessity for hospital toilets to cater for a wide range of ages and needs.
Ensuring there is adequate disabled access with wheelchair-accessible toilets, alongside ambient cubicles to ensure users with a range of needs also have sufficient space to negotiate toilet use, is essential.
Other simple support measures include the provision of grab rails and easy-open door handles.
And don’t forget to consider all ages in your hospital toilet design – including the very youngest with the provision of baby changing facilities.
· Safety
Staff, patient, and visitor safety are the primary concern for hospitals. So, whilst toilets should be securely lockable, being able to gain access in the event of a medical emergency is also key.
Locks that can, when required, be safely opened to allow entry – without causing further injury to the user or unnecessary damage to the door – are fundamental to hospital toilet cubicles. So too are emergency cords, which can be pulled by the user to alert medical staff to an issue and raise the alarm for assistance.
Invest in hospital toilets
Outpatient clinics, doctors’ surgeries, hospital wards – within any medical setting the demand for cleanliness and effective germ control is heightened.
For strong, durable and attractive hospital cubicles – and all the fixtures and fittings you need – take a look at M&P Fittings.
As premier providers of toilet cubicles, you’re only one click away from making improvements to your hospital toilet cubicles. Visit their site now, or to discuss the importance of hospital toilets – and how to achieve impressive results – call the team now on 0151 345 0699.
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