Design of PFI hospitals contributes to stress

The design standard of the first wave of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) hospitals is too low and not enough has been done to create a positive working environment for nurses and hospital staff, a survey has revealed. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the Royal College of Nursing, which commissioned the research, are concerned that the next wave of PFI hospitals will also be sub-standard. The report also found that working in a poorly designed hospital contributes significantly to stress levels.