New Newton Abbot hospital guarantees patients a room with a view

Every ward bed at the new Newton Abbot hospital will have a window view over woodland or gardens and there will also be natural light throughout the hospital. The idea is to improve the patient experience as the beautiful views and light should reduce their anxiety at being in hospital The design should also improve infection control.

NOTE: this is, obviously, not a cheap idea. But we urge people who read this to think of ways of maximising the view of patients in any hospital.

My mother was a long stay patient and for weeks she was not near a window. Until that could be arranged, I asked the staff each day to move her chair to a window where she could enjoy the changing seasons, the visitors and staff that walked past and the bird table that I organised to be installed so that she could quietly watch the birds eat, play, fight and wash. Jill