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Health Building Notes

The Health Building Note series is intended to give advice on the briefing and design implications of departmental policy. They are published by The Stationary Office and may be purchased through all good booksellers.

These Health Building Notes are prepared in consultation with representatives of the National Health Service and appropriate professional bodies.

Health Building Notes are aimed at multi-disciplinary teams engaged in:

  • Designing new buildings
  • Adapting or extending existing buildings

Throughout the Health Building Notes series, particular attention is paid to the relationship between the design of a given department and its subsequent management. Since this equation will have important implications for capital and running costs, alternative solutions are sometimes proposed. The intention is to give the reader informed guidance on which to base design decisions.

HBN 1 Buildings for the health service, 1988 (new edition in preparation)

HBN 2 The whole hospital briefing and operational policies, 1993

HBN 4 In-patient accommodation options for choice Volume 1, 1997
HBN 4 In-patient accommodation options for choice Volume 2: European case studies, 1998

HMB 4 'In-patient accommodation' (1997) is currently being updated. As part of this work, the Department of Health has commissioned some research into the size and layout of single room en-suite bathrooms to identify a space-efficient design that would meet the needs of all patients. A full size mock up of the new design has been built at Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge in June 2006

HBN 6 Radiology department, 2002
HBN 6 Supplement 1 Magnetic resonance imaging, 1994

HBN 8 Rehabilitation: accommodation for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, 1991 (new edition in preparation)

HBN 10 Catering department, 1997

HBN 12 Out-patients department, 1986
HBN 12 Supplement 1 Genito-urinary medicine clinic, 1990
HBN 12 Supplement 2 Oral surgery, orthodontics, restorative dentistry, 1993
HBN 12 Supplement 3 ENT and audiology clinics, hearing aid centre, 1994
HBN 12 Supplement 4 Ophthalmology, 1996

HBN 13 Sterile services department, 1993
HBN 13 Supplement 1 Ethylene oxide sterilization section, 1994

HBN 15 Accommodation for pathology services, 1991

HBN 18 Office accommodation in health buildings, 1991

HBN 20 Mortuary and post-mortem room, 1991

HBN 21 Maternity department, 1996

HBN 22 Accident and emergency department in an acute general hospital, 1995
HBN 22 Supplement 1 Trauma care/minor injury, 1996

HBN 23 Hospital accommodation for children and young people, 1994

HBN 25 Laundry, 1994

HBN 26 Operating department, 1991

HBN 27 Intensive therapy unit, 1993

HBN 28 Facilities for cardiac services (in preparation)

HBN 29 Accommodation for pharmaceutical services

HBN 34 Estate maintenance and works operations, 1992

HBN 35 Accommodation for people with mental illness Part 1, The acute unit, 1996
HBN 35 Accommodation for people with mental illness Part 2, Treatment and care in the community
HBN 35 Accommodation for people with mental illness Part 3, Case studies (in preparation)

HBN 36 Vol 1 Local healthcare facilities, 1995
HBN 36 Vol 1 Supplement 1 Accommodation for professions allied to medicine, 1997
HBN 36 Vol 2 Local healthcare facilities: Case studies, 1996

HBN 37 Hospital accommodation for elderly people, 1981

HBN 40 Common activity spaces Volume 1 Public areas, 1995
HBN 40 Common activity spaces Volume 2 Treatment areas, 1995
HBN 40 Common activity spaces Volume 3 Staff areas, 1995
HBN 40 Common activity spaces Volume 4 Circulation areas, 1995

HBN 41 Accommodation for staff changing and storage of uniforms, 1984

HBN 42 Accommodation for education and training, 1989

HBN 44 Accommodation for ambulance services, 1994

HBN 45 External works for health buildings, 1992

HBN 46 General medical practice premises, 1992

HBN 47 Health records department, 1991

HBN 48 Telephone services, 1997

HBN 51 Accommodation at the main entrance of a DGH, 1991
HBN 51 Supplement 1 Miscellaneous spaces in a DGH, 1991

HBN 52 Accommodation for day care Volume 1 Day surgery unit, 1993
HBN 52 Accommodation for day care Volume 2 Endoscopy unit, 1994
HBN 52 Accommodation for day care Volume 3 Medical investigation and treatment unit,1995

HBN 53 Satellite dialysis unit, 1996

HBN 54 Facilities for cancer services (in preparation)

HBN 56 The schedules of accommodation, 1998

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