One size fits all? Mixed methods evaluation of the impact of 100% single-room accommodation on staff and patient experience, safety and costs (7 October 2015)

Summary

There is little strong evidence relating to the impact of single-room accommodation on healthcare quality and safety. Maben et al. explore the impact of all single rooms on staff and patient experience; safety outcomes; and costs. The study found that staff needed to adapt their working practices significantly and felt unprepared for new ways of working with potentially significant implications for the nature of teamwork in the longer term. Staff preference remained for a mix of single rooms and bays. Patients preferred single rooms.