Those warda are based on the nightingale design it's true but from a nursing perspective- especially when staffing levels are kiw- they are far safer and more efficient than small bays or single rooms. It's much easier to keep an eye and react quickly.
The real problem is bed blocking due to a lack of social care and supported housing ( which limits bed availability). Most of the disruption that happens on wards is due to disoriented, often elderly patients who have completely disordered sleep patterns and therefore keep the whole ward awake at night .
After my last major surgery I was in a 5 bedded ward with three other women recovering from surgery for cancer, and one poor soul who had been on the ward almost 2 months after a hip replacement ( overspill from ortho ward) with no suitable place to be discharged to. She was calling out a woman's name all night long, trying to get out if bed ( often getting tangled in her catheter, which seemed to be in place only so the nurses weren't constantly taking her to the bathroom or giving her a bed pan. ) Once out with the physios she was off like a whippet. But she was given sedatives, had the bed guards up and was sometimes tied to those with bandages. There just wasn't the care needed there for her.
She wouid sleep during the day then keep us awake all night and it was hell. Wasn't her fault however. I had ear plugs which helped a little.
I'm sure the whole situation is worse 7 yrs later . So many care homes were closed during and after covid after so many residents died and staff got much harder to retain.