DescriptionThe Dining Room is an area provided for patients to eat their meals away from the bedroom environment in an inpatient setting. The Dining Room may be used for other patient recreational activities when not in use for meals. In this instance, additional transfer of noise to adjacent patient care areas to be considered.Hours of OperationUp to 24 hours (dependent on unit operating hours)Occupancyup to 16 patients seated; 3-4 staff intermittentlyAdditional Considerations~ Food services model, e.g. meal trolley (tray or re-thermalisation), servery, beverage bay, etc. will impact room design. A kitchen, servery or beverage bay may be collocated or combined with the Dining Room.
~ Size of space will depend on number of beds and models of care; designed area based on 3m2 per person.
~ Access will be required for patients with limited mobility including wheelchairs, walking frames and other walking aids. Design must also consider the needs of patients with dementia and frail/elderly.
~ An operational model for responding to calls from staff/patients will be needed to support the inclusion of a nurse call system and is to be determined based on service requirements. Patient to nurse call button and handset is optional and may be provided in units where high patient observation is required.
~ Duress provision will be dependent on service requirements.
~ Furniture shown in this Standard Component is indicative and items selected will vary depending on patient cohort. Considerations regarding furniture include assessing the weight rating of all seating, including for bariatric capacity as required, providing a mix of chairs with and without arms to support patient mobility, and providing built-in furniture or securing furniture where there may be safety/security concerns.
~ Lighting to be consistent across the space.
~ Size, type and quantity of waste bins is dependent on environmental management policies and service requirements. Where a facility has additional waste streams, beyond the general waste and comingled recycling indicatively shown in this Standard Component, additional area may be required to accommodate the receptacles. Depending on frequency of waste removal, bin sizes may be larger in high use areas or as guided by local waste management policies. Joinery to conceal bins may be provided depending on infection prevention and control policies.
~ Where possible a achieving a domestic appearance with furniture, fittings and finishes is recommended.
~ The display of artwork and cultural assets will be guided by the facility. A rail display system may be considered to minimise risks and allow for flexibility in display. Ease of cleaning for infection prevention and control also needs to be considered when selecting artwork.
~ Natural light and external outlook is essential.