Active Projects

Design for Flexibility and Change within health service providers

The NHS is involved in a profound transformation process as it strives to keep pace with, and shape, changes in our society. The NHS Plan, launched in July 2000 set up an ambitious programme of change that has affected all levels of the healthcare system.

Project Facts

Start date: April 2009
End date: October 2010
Investigators Prof. Rachel Cooper (Lancaster University); Prof Mike Kagioglou (Salford University); Dr. Patricia Tzortzopoulos (Salford University).
Staff Employed Dr. Monika Buscher (Lancaster University); Dr. Sabine Junginger (Lancaster University); Dr. Daniela Sangiorgi (Lancaster University); Dr. Valerie Carr (Lancaster University)
Status Active

Project Partners

North West Lancashire PCT; Coastal Medical Group (Morecambe)

Project Partners

HaCIRIC
School of the Built Environment,
The University of Salford,
4th Floor, Maxwell Building,
Salford,
Greater Manchester
M5 4WT, UK
T: +44 (0)161 295 4815
E: s.sapountzis(at)salford(dot)ac(dot)uk

This investment has been driven by the necessity to transform the old hierarchical and paternalistic model into a modern health system built around the needs of patients and the delivery of a more personalised service. This focus on patients’ needs has shifted the attention to local community services and front-line staff.

The research investigates how GP practices apply their knowledge in the design of new healthcare services and facilities, and what creative and/or design skills could make this new role more effective.The project aims to improve the way health infrastructure is designed, conceived and managed at a local level, in order to include and enable changes in services.

I have no doubt the BeReal© research will facilitate a more proactive approach than I have usually seen which would undoubtedly improve the achievement of planned benefits and value for money.

Patricia Leahy
Director, Private Finance Practice, National Audit Office