The backbone of in-patient care is the hospital ward, and I believe that this will remain so in the future. Shortcomings in the staffing, organization and layout of the conventional ward have been recog nized for a long time, but there have been few changes and not all these have benefited the patient. The evolution of specialized treat ment centres for poliomyelitis, thoracic surgery, burns and so on, showed the need for a new staffing structure-a re-organization of patient care and of secondary importance, new forms of accom modation. These regional or referral centres serve large...