Traditional hospital privacy curtains are a necessary part of a patient’s care, but they can be unhygienic and contaminated with dangerous pathogens. This reality can lead to patients contracting any number of healthcare-acquired infections (HCAIs), including MRSA, C Diff, E Coli and more.

That’s why hospitals and other healthcare facilities are having to rethink their use of traditional privacy curtains and seek alternatives which reduce the risks posed by contamination.

In doing this, they also overcome several other problems associated with traditional privacy curtains, such as the hanging rails needed to install them; the lack of soundproofing they provide; the time and money needed to remove and replace them; and the fact they often clash with other pieces of hospital equipment.

An excellent alternative to the traditional hospital privacy curtain is the more modern privacy screen found in many healthcare facilities today.

These hard-surfaced folding, fixed or mobile screens reduce the risk of contamination because they can be easily wiped clean, preventing the spread of HCAIs.

Hospital privacy screens, such as the ones produced by Silentia, afford a number of benefits for healthcare facilities:

1. Improved infection control

First and foremost, hard-surfaced hospital privacy screens can be easily and quickly wiped clean. This allows them to seamlessly integrate with the ward hygiene programmes utilised by healthcare facilities and hospitals, helping to reduce the spread of HCAIs.

Furthermore, all the surfaces of privacy screens are fully accessible, allowing every part to be cleaned as and when necessary.

2. Better sound attenuation

Unlike traditional hospital privacy curtains which offer very little when it comes to sound attenuation, hard-surfaced hospital privacy screens are great for reducing noise travel. This means that doctor-patient conversations stay just that and the patient’s privacy and dignity remain intact.

This also benefits other patients in the near vicinity as it allows them to recuperate in peace and not be disturbed every time a nearby patient receives a visitor.

3. Cost effective

Hospital privacy screens are more economical in the medium term than their traditional curtain counterparts, despite having a slightly higher initial investment cost. By replacing their traditional privacy curtains with more modern, hard-surfaced privacy screens, healthcare facilities can not only improve their infection control regime, but can also enjoy significantly reduced annual running costs. A typical payback period can be as little as 3 to 4 years.

4. Versatile

Modern privacy screens have extensive product ranges, which mean healthcare facilities have flexibility and can choose the solutions that are right for them.

Wall-mounted privacy screens take up very little space when folded away and don’t interfere with the operation of other pieces of equipment due to their collapsible nature. Mobile privacy screens can be quickly and easily moved to another location, enabling healthcare facilities to relocate them to gain more space and use them in other areas.

Furthermore, privacy screens do not require ceiling fixtures, so they can be installed easily and have much less chance of clashing with other equipment found in the patient care area.

5. Aesthetically pleasing

Traditional privacy curtains do not allow much light to penetrate them, which can lead to darker patient care areas. Some modern privacy screens, though, feature daylight panels which allow more light to pass through.

They also come in a range of colours and styles, which enables hospitals and healthcare facilities to choose privacy screens that fit with the overall feel of their establishments.

About Silentia

• 20 years experience supplying privacy screens
• End-to-end services from design to delivery
• Screens used across healthcare facilities
• Flexible market uses