Revamp for bereavement centre
A BEREAVEMENT centre at Leicester Royal Infirmary is set to undergo a £100,000 refurbishment in the next few weeks thanks to funds raised by Leicester Rotary Club and a local appeal. The current cramped office and waiting rooms will be replaced with an office and two private rooms overlooking a courtyard garden. Eleanor Meldrum, assistant director of nursing and head of chaplaincy and bereavement services at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: “Staff are very dedicated and they are passionate about the service and it will make a huge difference to have comfortable surroundings where they can see relatives. Having the extra space will mean that we can spend a little more time with them. There is also much more awareness of the emotional support we can offer.”
Hospice plans get green light
HEALTH officials in Sunderland have approved plans for a new £12.3m hospice to be built on the former Ryhope General Hospital site. It will replace St Benedict’s Hospice at Monkwearmouth Hospital and is scheduled to be built by 2013, subject to planning permission and formal approval by the local authority. NHS South of Tyne and Wear will hold a series of drop-in days next month on behalf of Sunderland Teaching PCT for the public to find out more. Dr Henry Choi, clinical effectiveness lead for Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We aim to involve the local community throughout the project. The drop-in days will exhibit the latest designs and provide a chance for local people to find out more about the project and how it will help us to deliver the very best end of life care in Sunderland.”
Haemodialysis unit completed
OFF-SITE construction specialist, Yorkon, has handed over a new purpose-built satellite haemodialysis unit to Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. In independent tests for air permeability, the building exceeds Building Regulations Part L 2010 by 90% without any adaptation to the standard Yorkon building system. The unit, which has just opened, forms part of a £12m investment by the trust to deliver more services in the community in line with Government priorities for the rapidly-expanding population requiring dialysis. The centre at Estover provides services for patients, many of whom require regular attendance, in a user-friendly community setting rather than a more typical large hospital environment. The previous dialysis facility in the hospital will now be reconfigured for use by the ophthalmology department. The 954sq m, single-storey building comprises 27 steel-framed modules which were craned into position in just four days.
Commenting on the project, Syd Jamieson, project manager at the trust, said: “This unit provides a much improved facility out in the local community. It was delivered on time and on budget, and we are very happy with the finished building. It has freed up space within the hospital for use by another department and has created a welcoming, high-quality environment for our dialysis patients.”
Gloucester hospital set to open
A NEW community hospital in Gloucestershire is currently being fitted out and is expected to open its doors to patients before the end of the year. The £9m Vale Community Hospital in Dursley will replace existing outdated facilities at Berkeley Hospital and Sandpits clinic, and reduce the need for Berkeley Vale residents to travel to Gloucester or Cheltenham for treatment. Jan Stubbings, chief executive of NHS Gloucestershire, said: “This is an exciting project which will provide care and treatment in the best possible environment for the patient and in the right way to meet their individual needs.”
ALSO IN THE NEWS:
Smoothing underlay and pressure-sensitive acrylic flooring adhesive from F. Ball and Co have been used to refurbish the ward corridors at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. The Stopgap 100 Rapid underlay and Styccobond F46 adhesive will help to create a safe, level and hard-wearing floor surface for staff and visitors.
Yeovil District Hospital has re-opened its Macmillan Cancer Unit following an £800,000 refurbishment. The centre provides outpatient and chemotherapy services.
- Companies:
- F Ball and Co Limited
- NHS South of Tyne and Wear
- NHS Dumfries and Galloway
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Portakabin
