Why MAGGIE`S CENTRE is not A MODEL FOR A RECUPERATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR NHS?

WHY MAGGIE 'S is not A MODEL FOR A RECUPERATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR NHS

2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 3

Aims and Objective of the Research 6

Research Questions and Issues 7

Outline Strategies 8

Choice of Research Design 8

Quantitative Research Techniques 13

Access , Confidentiality and Ethics 14

Contribution to Enhancement of Education 15

Literature Review 15

BIBLIOGRAPHY 21

Introduction

Healthcare organizations and institutions often have to deal with the challenge of treating a patient 's actual illness and in caring for the patient

's overall well-being . Treatment of an illness and disease is one thing , but helping the patient cope emotionally and psychologically with the disease is another thing altogether . Hospitals and other health institutions thus face the challenge of providing for a recuperative or healing environment for their patients . Studies show that the design of the healthcare environment can have a therapeutic effect on patients

Health organizations have started to turn to architects and interior designs in creating an environment for patients which combing modern medicine technology and innovative design to provide for a recuperative and healing atmosphere . Research has shown that there are different environmental components , such as lighting , colour , aroma , views , art scale , proportion , sound , texture , and materials , have powerful healing and therapeutic effect on patients . The reason behind this is that people perceive the environment through the five senses of sight , smell touch , taste and hearing . The information that we pick up from these senses are transmitted to the brain which in turn affects our physiological , emotional , psychological , and ultimately , our physical well-being

This is why architecture has in recent years been regarded as an important tool in battling terminal diseases such as cancer . Care centres have started to turn to architecture to provide for a natural homey environment that combines advanced health care technology and innovative design to help the patient to deal with his or her illness

Maggie 's Centres , which were pioneered by Maggie Keswick Jencks who died in 1995 of breast cancer , are arguably the most famous healing environments in the United Kingdom (UK ) today . These centres are not only for patients who have or had cancer , but also for their families friends and other caregivers . The aim behind the Maggie 's Centres is to help people with cancer to be as healthy in mind and body as possible and to allow these patients to address all aspects of living with cancer . This is accomplished through the Centres ' philosophy that a patient 's immediate environment affects the patient 's well-being . The patient 's environment thus represents the first stage in assisting the patients to manage their fears and to deal with their illness

The Maggie 's Centres differ greatly from hospital and health centres established by the National Health Services (NHS . The NHS has actually been criticized for failing to provide a recuperative environment that could measure up to the Maggie 's Centres . Critics have argued that the healing power of a beautiful environment shows the patient that the caregivers or...