The Design Quality Indicator for Health 2 (DQIfH2) is expected to contribute to improved design, long term functionality and sustainability of future hospital new build and major adaption and refurbishment projects, the CIC said.聽
This latest version enables the DQIfH2 to be used by healthcare organisations to engage earlier in the consultation and design process of all types of healthcare buildings. The tool has been updated to perform better with the latest NHS England & Improvement requirements, aligned to the current business case process, while also being adaptable to be used on accelerated project programmes, CIC said.
It is designed to be the vehicle for not only design appraisal but also staged review of other NHS estates assurances processes.
The CIC鈥檚 original Design Quality Indicator (DQI), which was launched in 2002, is a process for evaluating and improving the design and construction of any type of new building and the refurbishment of existing ones, with various sector specialisms such as health, education and civic buildings. It focused on involving a wider group of stakeholders in the design process than had then been the case, involving not only the design and construction teams, but also those who used, financed and were affected by the building.
The 2002 DQI provided staged review by stakeholders of a projects design development from concept to completion consistent with RIBA and other industry standards and in 2008 was adopted by the Department of Health as the Achieving Excellence Design Evaluation Toolkit (AEDET).
In 2010 the Department of Health commissioned the first DQI for Health as the default design quality evaluation tool for all healthcare projects. It built on the foundations of the original DQI while incorporating elements of the then obsolete AEDET.
CIC chief executive Graham Watts said: 鈥淚mproving quality in the built environment is at the core of CIC鈥檚 mission and the new DQI for Health 2 aligns excellently with the work that CIC is doing elsewhere, in terms of improving building design, safety, quality and procurement.聽 This is not just for projects related to healthcare but also other construction sectors that can have a direct influence on health and wellbeing in the UK, such as housing and education. We are keen to continue our close working with NHS England & Improvement both during the launch of the DQIfH2 and in the longer term to ensure continuing improvement over the coming years.鈥�
Simon Corben, director and head of profession at NHS Estates & Facilities, said: 鈥淭he quality of the NHS estate is a key factor in delivering both high quality clinical care and a positive environment for patients, visitors and staff. Use of the new DQI for Health through the NHS鈥檚 business case process will support delivery of this.鈥�
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