title: Splendid isolation? The pros and cons of single rooms for the NHS.
abstract: Nightingale wards remained the layout of choice in most NHS hospitals until the 1960s, when racetrack wards and bay areas with between four and six beds were introduced. More recently, a case has been made for more single-room accommodation in new hospital designs and some have argued for the abolition of all shared accommodation. This article explores the evidence on the advantages and disadvantages of such moves.
authors.affiliation: National Nursing Rreseach Unit, King's College London.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maben
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012934:Social Isolation; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom