ABSTRACT
Work in healthcare design will continue to be needed in countries around the globe, with many British practices working internationally, and international practices working in the UK. In the future, healthcare design will extend these growth sectors further using technology and innovation. Ageing and growing populations, greater prevalence of chronic diseases, exponential advances in innovative but costly digital technologies – these and other developments continue to increase healthcare demand and expenditure. Architects of healthcare facilities, planners, clinicians and social care providers can work together to influence policy and improve the wellbeing of people. The holistic nature of closed-loop healthcare provision has many aspects, from town planning, to housing, public transport, healthcare buildings, libraries and fresh food. Urban farms are used to provide ‘horticultural therapy’. The digitisation of healthcare reduces the need for face-to-face consultations, enabling patients to self-manage their health and enabling remote and mobile working, in turn reducing the amount of space required to deliver patient care.
