The concept of "workplace" in the health sector is a relatively new concept given the traditional approach to hospital space planning which has been focussed almost entirely on clinical functions and self-contained departments that accommodate both clinical and non-clinical space. However new models of care are emerging whereby hospital planning is shifting from being "department-centric" to "patient-centric". Under this model, accommodation for patient care, be it acute or ambulatory, is centralised in a facility that incorporates shared, multi-purpose clinical spaces and the "non-clinical" workspace removed to a separate part of the hospital. This approach has dual benefits. Firstly, it provides a significantly better level of patient service, eliminating the need for travel to multiple departments for treatment. Secondly, it eliminates much of the duplication of facilities and spaces that occurs in self-contained departments and significantly improves space utilisation. A side benefit is that collocating medical workspace also provides opportunities for cross-disciplinary interaction and collaboration.

Unsurprisingly, this new approach to hospital planning is proving controversial with medical staff who, whilst acknowledging the patient benefits, have significant concerns about physically removing workspace from clinical areas. These concerns are primarily based on the potential disconnection between medical staff and patients, particularly in areas of acute care, and on the perceived loss of departmental identity and cohesion that they fear could result from an "homogenised" workplace.

Hence the new hospital workplace requires considerable care in planning and user engagement and workplace change management become important tools to ensure successful outcomes. One of the first major projects based on the new model of care and that has adopted this approach to workplace is the new Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, currently under construction.

The New Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne

Developer: Children's Health Partnership (IPP / Bovis Lend Lease / Spotless) for the Victorian State Government
Architects: Billard Leece / Bates Smart / HKS
Workplace Strategy: DEGW