Healthcare Industry Roundup: June 2017
With the end of June 2017 comes the latest industry news from Pensher Skytech. To make sure you’re up to date with all of the latest news from the healthcare industry, we have put together a handy bitesize roundup of everything you may have missed in June 2017.
This month we are looking at the top healthcare stories, including the rise in students seeking help with mental health, the uncertain future of the healthcare construction industry and how Brexit and the recent General Election have affected it. We also explore the recent announcement from the Design in Mental Health Exhibition that a guide on the design of psychiatric intensive care units is to be published, and a new construction solution that may revolutionise the future of the healthcare industry.
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Rise in American Students Suffering from Mental Health Issues.
A recent report shows that the number of American college students seeking help for mental health issues has significantly increased, with the amount seeking counselling doubling last year.
The results are part of an annual report published by Penn State University’s Centre for Collegiate Mental Health, where 139 universities and colleges across the country were looked at. Data found that 61% of students felt high levels of anxiety.
The students, who are typically in their early twenties are increasingly seeking help for mental health issues. The results from the report found that:
- 50% said they felt depressed
- 45% were stressed
- 26% confessed they had intentionally hurt themselves
- 33% had considered suicide.
Though the number of students seeking mental health advice has increased, there is still some progress being made, as the young adults are actively seeking treatment.
Nancy Roy, the clinical director at suicide prevention centre, JED Foundation, believes that we can no longer rely on health and counselling centres to be primarily responsible and that campuses need to start taking more responsibility in helping their students who are suffering from mental health illnesses.
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Future of Healthcare Construction Industry Uncertain
Despite seeing growth in the first half of 2017 for the healthcare construction industry, the recent General Election and Brexit are posing features that progress may not continue in the same way. Experts are expecting a downturn in the industry after continuing pressure on capital budgets.
Early 2017 showed a significant amount of optimism after investments increased following a relatively subdued 2016, according to CBRE’s latest report. Investments in the first six months of 2017 are expected to top £700m, which is close to the total recorded for the entirety of last year.
It is forecast that the primary construction projects in the healthcare sector will likely be in the primary care sector, which could include more hub facilities and integrated GP premises.
Despite there being quite a healthy pipeline for the future, with hundreds of projects and 5,000 residential projects on the horizon, the results from Brexit and the recent General Election have shown to put some strain on the pipeline.
Tom Morgan, senior director of healthcare advisory at CBRE has said: ‘The UK healthcare real estate sector remains extremely buoyant as investors seek secure, asset-backed long-term income streams in a market sector underpinned by a widening gap between supply and demand.’
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Much-Needed Guidance on Design of Psychiatric Intensive Care Units to be Published
A new partnership between Design in Mental Health and the National Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care and Low Secure Units (NAPICU) has been announced. The two are to collaborate to create a much-needed guidance on the design of psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs).
The announcement was made at this year’s Design in Mental Health Conference in Birmingham. It is expected that the guidance will ‘complement the national minimum standards and existing literature on PICU service delivery’, but will ensure that direct attention is paid to the design of the built environment.
Dr Faisil Sethi, NAPICU vice chairman and a consultant psychiatrist and associate clinic director at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘The reason the environment is so key and such a challenge is that there is a high rate of conflict and violence within these wards on a daily basis.
‘It’s a very dynamic environment and so much happens in these spaces. It’s not about locking a patient in their room and leaving them there. There are a lot more things that go into making it therapeutic, and that includes design.’
The guidance will look at a variety of design aspects, including layout, interior design, therapeutic qualities, interior design, infection control and more. It is expected that the final guidance will be published in December.
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Healthcare Construction Solution to Help Hospitals
The crisis across the UK healthcare industry to improve facilities under crippling budgets makes it incredibly difficult to meet the standards that are expected.
However, the healthcare construction industry is tackling this issue by incorporating a range of solutions, particularly focusing on off-site building methods. Modular and mobile units have been incorporated across the UK to provide additional space and facilities at a fraction of the cost of new-builds, according to a new study.
So far, the solutions are proving to be a success. The units are fabricated off-site, therefore ensuring minimal disruption to healthcare environments, they’re able to have security systems, toilet facilities, disabled access, plenty of space, and a great deal of flexibility.
Though it may not be a long-term solution, offsite building methods can create space quickly, whilst not putting a strain on budgets, and managing to be environmentally friendly.
A spokesman at Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, who make modular and mobile facilities, said: ‘By thinking outside of the box and embracing a truly-flexible solution, they can manage fluctuations in demand, without compromise.’
Those are the top stories in the healthcare industry from June 2017. You can read our latest security industry roundup here. We hope you enjoyed this month’s industry roundup. Join us again at the beginning of July, where we will have more of the biggest stories.
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