Cardboard box kitchens help improve sustainability outcomes
Date published: 27 Feb 2024
Author: Lauren McColl
As part of our commitment to improving sustainability outcomes for the health system, HealthShare NSW is harnessing the capabilities of the Health Prototyping Centre (HPC) to develop new kitchen layouts at Armidale and Tamworth Hospitals.
Using cardboard boxes, our Patient Services and Planning teams mapped out the dimensions of the kitchen spaces and kitchen equipment with life-scale prototypes.
This innovative approach allowed the team to efficiently strategise the layout and design of the two kitchens in preparation for the implementation of a new food service delivery model, enabling them to find the best solution before investing in the kitchen and renovation costs.
Food Service Reform Manager Amitha Mather said that the HPC provided an invaluable blank canvas to bring ideas to life and envisage the end result.
“It was an extremely worthwhile exercise for the team, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” said Amitha.
“It allowed us to rapidly test multiple layouts and simulate workflows in real-world settings, which was instrumental in shaping our approach to the design. We could easily visualise how staff would move around in the space and immerse ourselves in the set up.”
By using the HPC, the team were able to identify the optimal configuration ahead of purchasing equipment to prevent potential workflow disruptions, implementation delays and costly changes – often in the form of further additions or renovations to hospital infrastructure. The collaborative nature of the workshop also facilitated input from a range of teams including operations, Food Service Reform, Work Health and Safety, Quality Assurance, and Capital Assets and Planning, to contribute knowledge and expertise.
“Having a diverse group of stakeholders to share their suggestions and feedback during the session was really beneficial in evaluating the design and ensuring we had a well-rounded perspective for decision making,” said Amitha.
Looking ahead, General Manager Anne Buckley said the team are set to return to the HPC to assist in planning at other sites and highlighted its impact in driving future improvements.
“We’re making sure that our facilities are not only efficient and well considered, but also tailored to meet the future needs of our services and patients.”
Located at Macquarie Park, the HPC is a jointly funded venture between eHealth NSW, Health Infrastructure, NSW Health Pathology and HealthShare NSW. The Centre provides spaces that simulate hospital settings, where staff can trial new innovations in a low-cost, safe to fail environment, to learn early on if a concept works or not.
For further information, visit the HPC page. To discuss the suitability of your initiative, please contact Kym Worth, Associate Director Customer Insights and Advocacy.
Follow us
Follow HealthShare NSW on LinkedIn and Facebook.