NHS hospitals will challenge nursing organization

Abstract

The NHS is building more hospitals than the rest of the G7 nations put together, claims a report in the Times (2006). The Government's justification for this is that for many years there was very little investment in new hospitals. The billions of pounds which are now being spent on hospitals may not be as effective nor as economical as first thought. There is a danger that such new buildings may become ‘white elephants’ according to a new report (Bosanquet, 2006). The sheer cost of such developments is a major reason for the deficits in many NHS units around the country. What is needed, says the report, is a more flexible approach to developing large numbers of buildings, which in the future may not be required as the nature and time patients spend in hospital is reduced.