Architecture + Design Scotland

A+DS to support NHSScotland in delivering better Healthcare Facilities

01 September 2006

Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) has teamed up with the Scottish Executive Health Department to drive forward the design agenda with NHSScotland.  

The three year Framework Agreement will allow a dedicated stream of work on healthcare facilities, thereby raising the level of ambition and design quality throughout NHSScotland. It will facilitate:  

"I am delighted that the Scottish Executive Health Department is teaming up with Architecture and Design Scotland.  This relationship will help enhance the quality of design to which we all aspire for our healthcare buildings."  Andy Kerr MSP - Minister for Health and Community Care

• The establishment of a design champions' network across NHSScotland Health Boards;
• The enabling of fourteen healthcare projects - providing dedicated, hands-on support to commissioning clients; 
• The provision of design assessment services, to make design quality part of governmental project approval mechanisms and procurement processes; 
• The production of two dedicated health facilities publications, detailing best practice and providing case studies. 

As part of the agreement, A+DS is delighted to have appointed its Board Member Gareth Hoskins as Scottish Healthcare Design Champion. This important role will see Gareth take on strategic leadership of the design champions' network and provide an overarching vision for work carried out under the framework.  

All work is underpinned by the forthcoming Scottish Executive Health Department's ‘Policy on Design Quality for NHSScotland'. This important piece of guidance recognises the increasing body of evidence that principles of good design - such as integration into the community and a sense of place - make a quantifiable positive impact on patients, visitors and staff.    

Raymond Young - Chair of Architecture and Design Scotland - said:  

"A+DS congratulates the Health Department for forming a policy on design quality and is delighted to support them in delivering better healthcare environments. The agreement is fundamental to our work in this core area. It will allow us to work collaboratively with Health Boards and their project teams in raising awareness and ambition. Through enabling and design assessment, it will also make it possible for us to work across the whole design life of healthcare facilities, including the major projects which will shape Scotland's healthcare landscape in years to come."

Andy Kerr MSP - Minister for Health and Community Care - said:  

"I am delighted that the Scottish Executive Health Department is teaming up with Architecture and Design Scotland.  This relationship will help enhance the quality of design to which we all aspire for our healthcare buildings."

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