Researchers from the University of Otago argue that it’s time for New Zealand to make single rooms standard in all public hospitals. They contend providing patients with single rooms must be a basic care standard for future renovations and new builds.
Currently, shared rooms are common, often housing up to six patients, including men and women together, which raises safety and ethical concerns.
Cindy Towns, Angela Ballantyne, and Matthew Kelly of the University of Otago highlight that single rooms improve infection control, protect privacy, and better serve patients with dementia or delirium.
Single rooms are shown to reduce infection risks, particularly in ICU settings, by eliminating shared surfaces and air. In New Zealand, however, only 30% of Wellington and Hutt hospitals have single rooms.
The researchers say that single rooms help manage delirium and dementia by offering a quiet, controlled environment essential for these patients’ care. Shared rooms, by contrast, often expose patients to disruptive and distressing behaviours.
Additionally, they argue that single rooms uphold patient rights to privacy and dignity, as shared spaces compromise these rights in essential ways like toileting and dressing.
Although single rooms have higher upfront costs, they argue the long-term benefits—reduced infections, better management of dementia, and fewer patient transfers—make them a cost-effective choice.
Editor’s Note: While single rooms offer clear benefits, budget constraints make this standard unlikely to be achieved across New Zealand’s public hospitals.
Centrist Ltd.