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This personal memoir attempts to set out a blueprint for new NHS hospitals, alongside a commentary about a recent experience as a Trauma inpatient and outpatient in a large failing London teaching hospital which highlighted some of the difficulties and frustrations facing patients. This took place during the NHS's struggle with the Covid pandemic. The buildings and facilities within which patients are treated and staff have to work are so important to the wellbeing and successful outcomes for all concerned, but are too often ignored. This book suggests a hospital building-led strategy to restore trust and to tackle the need for improvements for patients and staff. This approach was tried before between 1970 and 1995. Then it was possible to show how new hospital buildings could promote change and innovation. Now is the time to try this again as the climate for change feels similar to that of the 1970s. A political will to sort out the NHS is essential. The NHS and its staff are in desperate need for action to deal with the backlog post- Covid.
The book includes personal records covering the time spent as an inpatient and the long road to recovery, using WhatsApp messages, emails, letters and commentary. Alongside this is a description of a fantasy concept for smaller hospitals to provide a post Covid blueprint to help reduce the number of people waiting on the NHS for a surgical or medical procedure. It provides an insight into subsequent efforts to engage with "the powers that be" to improve the experience for future patients.
About the author
The author Len Bartholomew is a retired architect who has spent most of his working life specialising in the design of hospitals. He was able to do this without ever needing to sample life in hospital as an inpatient until he retired, when he was admitted as a Trauma patient to a large London teaching hospital. He had hoped that by the time he retired, every hospital would be fit for purpose. Also he expected that, at some time in the not so distant future, fewer large hospitals would be needed. These would be replaced by bright, shiny, optimistic and therapeutic smaller hospitals. Waiting lists would be a thing of the past in a responsive NHS. The "shock horror" experience of being referred to a large teaching hospital confirmed the reality that the NHS was nowhere near providing the right kind of hospitals needed for the 2020s. This prompted the need to write this book.
