Vicky Xu / Shanghai Daily news

Construction and renovation work on 28 key local hospitals will be completed by the end of next year, the health authorities announced yesterday. By the end of this year, two-thirds of the projects will be finished, and the most serious problem of infection control will be resolved, according to the Health Bureau.
In the out-dated hospitals, the greatest concern was for cross-infections between medical workers and patients, and between sanitized items and contaminated ones. After the construction and renovations, there will be separate passages for doctors and patients, and separate corridors for medical equipment and for wastes.
As well as improving the working environment, the hospital settings will also be more attractive, especially the colors. Instead of painting everything an old-fashioned white, different departments will be painted with different featured colors. For example, the emergency ward will be pale blue, bringing calm and composure; the maternity ward, pink, resembling new life and happiness; and the children's ward, mixed colors with cartoon creatures to make children feel secure. Patients will also feel more comfortable in the redesigned hospitals. Overcrowding will be eased. The outpatient center will be decorated with potted green plants and murals, and background music will add to the atmosphere. The patient wards will be equipped with slip-resistent floor tiles, treated glass windows and silent toilets.
Health authorities believe that providing better service for patients will be the trend in modern hospital reform, and will be appreciated by locals.