Current EHE projects

Environments of care at end of life

In November 2007, a new phase of the programme to benefit people approaching the end of life and the bereaved was announced. The Department of Health has provided £1 million to fund new projects in 20 NHS organisations in England, with the aim of physically improving the environment for those who are dying and their relatives.

Fifteen acute trusts, two mental health trusts, two primary care trusts and one HM prison have undertaken projects to improve the environment of care at end of life. Projects range from palliative care rooms with dedicated accommodation for relatives to the creation of bereavement centres and the redesign of mortuary viewing areas. The programme is being evaluated by the University of Nottingham.

Environments of care for people with dementia

In 2009 a new Department of Health funded programme was launched to improve the care environment for people with dementia and to support the implementation of the first national dementia care strategy. Ten projects in mental health and learning disabilities settings were launched in April 2009, chosen to reflect the different stages of the care pathway from diagnosis to end-of-life care and to act as exemplars of how practical improvements in the hospital environment can enhance the experience of service users and carers. In 2010 a further 12 projects in acute and mental health hospitals began.

EHE projects in dementia care are already showing how relatively small changes to the environment can reduce anxiety, accidents and incidents of challenging behaviour. The King's Fund and the trusts are now working to bring together good practice examples for environments of care for people with dementia.

See our EHE and dementia care completed projects

EHE in prisons

Since 2007, The King's Fund, with the support of Offender Health, has been working with teams from HM prisons to improve the health care environment for people in prison. Projects include improvements to clinic waiting areas and outpatient services to the creation of facilities for those requiring enhanced nursing and end of life care. To date 34 prisons in England and Wales have participated in the programme.