Reducing violence and aggression in A&E

According to the National Audit Office, violence and aggression towards frontline hospital staff is estimated to cost the NHS at least £69 million a year in staff absence, loss of productivity and additional security. We know designers have what it takes to develop new systems that help reduce violence and aggression in A&E and commissioned a multi-disciplinary design team lead by PearsonLloyd to develop solutions.

Solutions

The Reducing violence and aggression in A&E design team have developed prototype solutions including:

Guidanc e

Providing information to patients and other service users to alleviate the stress of the unknown. A system of environmental signage, which designers have called information ‘Slices’: clear, intuitive, location-specific information. These give patients guidance about their physical location and where they are within the A&E process. A personal ‘Process Map’ explaining what to expect from the treatment process and when to expect it, in order to manage users expectations of waiting times. Screens which provide live, dynamic information about how many cases are being handled and the current status of the A&E department.

People

Building a healthy mutual relationship between the user and the system. A new approach to greeting patients on arrival, answering their questions and ensuring they start the A&E experience positively.

Toolkit

We've developed a toolkit for NHS managers, clinicians and designer and healthcare planners who want to develop and deliver a better service in effective and inspiring environments.

Find out why design is a process that could help you shape patient-centred and cost-effective services and environments
Learn more about design solutions you could retrofit in your A&E
Procure design projects that deliver a better patient experience

You can also take a journey through A&E from the patient's perspective. Click on the pictures above to find out how design could help you improve different parts of the patient experience.

Publication

Publication You can download a PDF copy of the Reducing violence and aggression in A&E publication or contact us at a&e@designcouncil.org.uk to request a printed copy, ask questions or share your thoughts.

Printed publications will be provided free of charge to NHS employees upon request.

Webinars

Want to find out more about how design can help you reduce violence and aggression in A&E? We ran a series of free webinars that explored more about how designers and design research can help reduce violence and aggression in A&E.