Medical Privacy Screens 

Medical privacy screens are devices used in healthcare settings to provide privacy for patients during medical procedures or examinations. They can be made of a variety of materials, including plastic or fabric, and can be portable or fixed in place. A medical screen can be used to block the view of other patients or medical staff from certain areas of a room, such as a patient’s bed or examination table. They can also be used to create a screen room divider between patients in shared spaces, such as a hospital ward or clinic. 

Main types of Medical Privacy Screens 

Curtains or dividers 

Medical curtains can be pulled around a bed to separate it from the rest of the room and are usually suspended from tracks mounted to the ceiling. They can be made from a variety of natural or man-made materials including cotton, polyester, polypropylene, nylon and PVC (polyvinyl chloride). 

Portable privacy screens 

These screens are light-weight, often mounted on wheels and can be moved around as needed providing an alternative to folding curtains. They can be made of various materials, such as fabric, wood, or metal. 

Fixed, flat panel privacy panels 

Mounted on a wall, or attached to a floor mounted pole using brackets, screws, or other hardware, these screens form a semi-permanent feature of the room.  

Folding, wall-mounted medical screens 

These folding medical screens can also be mounted on a wall or attached to a floor mounted pole. They are designed to fold away flat to the wall in the same way as folding curtains, however they are not constricted by ceiling curtain tracks and therefore provide additional flexibility as they can be extended at a range of angles. 

Electronic privacy screens 

These are an advanced type of privacy screen technology which allows the user to control the level of privacy in a room by adjusting the transparency of the screen. They can be controlled via remote or automated systems. 

Transparent privacy screens 

Transparent screens are used to reduce the risk of cross-infection between individuals such as patients and clinical staff. They can also be used where only acoustic privacy is important. 

Important characteristics of a medical privacy screen 

Privacy screens and room dividers are used in a variety of non-clinical situations such as offices, public spaces and domestic settings. Medical privacy screens must take into account a wider range of factors which impacts their design. 

Important features of a hospital privacy ward screen include: 

Cleanability 

Hygiene and controlling the risk of cross-infection is vital in the hospital environment. Therefore, a hospital screen should be easy to clean and disinfect to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria and should not have gaps and corners which are difficult to access, and where dirt may gather. 

Privacy 

A medical screen should provide adequate privacy for patients while they are being examined or treated. This requirement should be balanced with the need for light and for staff to monitor patients, so they should not entirely shut a patient off. 

Noise reduction 

Acoustic privacy is also important for patient dignity and privacy. The screen should be able to block or reduce noise to provide a more peaceful and private environment for patients and staff. 

Flexibility 

Medical screens should be able to be configured in different ways, such as folding or telescoping, to accommodate different situations. 

Ease of use 

Hospital screens should be easy to use with minimal training in an environment where staff are regularly changing. A folding screen should be quick and easy to extend and retract in an emergency. 

Cost-effectiveness 

A medical privacy screen should be cost-effective and budget-friendly, so that healthcare facilities can purchase multiple screens if necessary. 

Environmental friendliness 

With hospitals under pressure to meet net-zero targets, screens which have a low impact on the environment are becoming increasingly important. Factors to consider are the carbon footprint made during manufacture, the environmental impact of cleaning the screen, reusability, recyclability and frequency of replacement or useful lifespan. 

Durability 

The screen should be made of sturdy materials that can withstand frequent movement and use in a healthcare setting. 

Fire Retardancy 

A hospital screen should be fire retardant to prevent fires and ensure the safety of patients and staff. 

Mobility 

A mobile medical screen should be lightweight and easy to move around, with wheels or other features that make it easy to position as needed. Medical screens may also have to be able to cope with uneven floor surfaces found in older hospital buildings. 

Size 

The screen should be available in different sizes, to fit the specific needs of the healthcare facility.