Effective commode design leaves bugs behind

At the heart of good design is a clear understanding of the problem being solved.

This was certainly true for the simple, effective redesign of the hospital commode for the NHS/Design Council’s Design Bugs Out competition.

Brunel University London teamed up with manufacturer Kirton Healthcare and design company PearsonLloyd to work on the commode brief. To support the designers, Senior Lecturer in Design Dr Hua Dong and his team carried out in-depth research into the commode’s use and the needs of patients and staff.

The brief required the chair to be ergonomic, easy to clean and easy to maintain. However, Dr Dong’s team went far beyond it to examine all relevant procedures – dismantling, sterilisation, storage and more.

Product reviews, hospital visits, observation of the equipment in use and patient and staff interviews revealed a wide range of issues. Researchers brought them to life in role-play with the designers and manufacturer in simulated hospital wards at Brunel University London.

This forensic understanding of the commode resulted in unexpected design-benefits for the end user. For example, the new model takes up less room in hospital sluices, an important consideration that would not have been apparent without the research.

Staff report that the Kirton commode is quieter when moved, meaning less disruption for sleeping patients. It can be simply turned over rather than dismantled for cleaning, freeing up nurses’ time for other tasks.

Infection cases reported by the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust were down 40%, with the Kirton commode credited as a significant factor.

These features and benefits saw the Kirton shortlisted for the 2009 BRIT Best Design of the Year award and over 2,000 of the commodes sold to UK hospitals.  

The spotlight shone on this integral but functional part of hospital life shows the impact of good quality research in action. The new commode has proved good business for Kirton, transformative for NHS staff and budgets and most importantly, improved patient comfort and dignity.