Health centres are a key part of a healthy community. That is why it’s crucial that their open spaces are welcoming, accessible and comfortable for all users. Well-maintained and green open spaces help make medical visits less stressful and have a positive impact on staff and visitor well-being. The need for quality open spaces has increased since the coronavirus pandemic: during the crisis, waiting areas were mostly moved to the outside to lower the risk of infection - and the habit evidently stuck. To this day, visitors and patients prefer to spend as much time as possible outside, in the fresh air, avoiding the dangers of infectious diseases. Identifying the areas where visitor experience can be improved is therefore essential to create a better environment and reduce stress when visiting medical facilities.
Three questions guided our research: What are the outdoor areas of Ljubljana's healthcare centres like? How do visitors use them? How can they be improved?
The survey is one of the first of its kind in Slovenia. More than 500 patients, relatives and other users of the open spaces surrounding Ljubljana's health centres were given the opportunity to describe the spaces on their own terms, and to record how they use them and what they require from them. The survey included questions on accessibility, traffic, maintenance, greenery and urban furniture, as well as participants' well-being. Particular emphasis was also placed on climate comfort and shelter, two increasingly important factors in the face of climate change.
Visitors are delighted by the greenery and annoyed by the traffic
The results outline the strengths and weaknesses of each individual location, but also provide an overview of the general state of the open spaces in question. Users found the spaces to be mostly clean, safe and easily accessible without a car. Most people use them while waiting for medical appointments, transportation or relatives. However, users feel that most places don't meet the two basic requirements for comfortable outdoor waiting: there are not enough benches and there is a lack of shelter from the weather - rain and sun.
Our assumption that access to a natural environment and greenery contributes positively to patient well-being has been confirmed. In locations where greenery and urban amenities were scarce or poorly maintained, users also assessed their well-being lower. In addition, trees, greenery, tranquility and other nature-related elements were often highlighted by participants as the features of outdoor areas that they liked best.
Users consistently cited problems related to traffic and accessibility as some of the most disruptive issues in these spaces. Although opinions vary, participants strongly agree that they can easily get to the health centres even if they do not have a car. This finding is surprising, and positive for planning sustainable accessibility in the future.
Younger people are less satisfied with the state of open space
The results of the survey also show that the current state of the outdoor areas is acceptable for the elderly, but no longer suitable for younger users (and especially for young parents). The surfaces clearly do not meet the standards and needs of the generations that will be visiting healthcare facilities for a long time to come. The owners and managers of the spaces - in Ljubljana, the Municipality of Ljubljana and the Ljubljana Health Centre - should therefore do their utmost to create an environment that supports healing and increases the satisfaction of healthcare service users.
The management of the Ljubljana Health Centre responded to our survey by allocating an additional €20,000 for the maintenance of the outdoor areas this year. The money will be used, among other things, for the installation of additional benches, traffic and cycling infrastructure and landscaping in front of the Vič Health Centre, as well as for the renovation of benches and the planting of trees to provide shade in front of the Fužine Health Centre. However, Municipality of Ljubljana should also take action to improve accessibility for all city residents and to resolve conflict-inducing traffic situations.
The data collected is freely available for any future use. Contact us: info@prostoroz.org
Ljubljana • Collaborators: Jan Šimnovec, Ana Šemrov • Supporters: IMPETUS (Horizon Europe), European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) • 2023