PARKING: Parking plan unveiled at Yorkshire trust
We do recognise there are, at peak times, significant pressures on the number of spaces. This can cause frustration to patients, visitors and staff alike and we are looking at options for solving this problem in the medium term
ONGOING problems with parking at Scarborough and Bridlington hospitals are to be addressed with plans for a new car park and park-and-ride scheme being considered. The announcement follows a meeting between representatives from Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust and members of the local branch of LINks, where concern was voiced over the implementation of parking enforcement at the hospitals. James Hayward, director of facilities, said: “Since the introduction of the current arrangements we have seen a significant improvement in the flow of traffic and safety for pedestrians. We do however recognise that there are, at peak times, significant pressures on the number of spaces. This can cause frustration to patients, visitors and staff alike and we are looking at options for solving this problem in the medium term. This includes looking at the feasibility of introducing a park and ride scheme or alternatively the construction of a parking multi storey car park with pay on exit barriers.” He said they were also considering short-term solutions to help patients who are receiving penalty notices when their appointments run over time.
LANDSCAPING: Trees mitigate impact of hospital revamp
TV GARDENER and broadcaster, Alan Titchmarsh, was the guest of honour as 48 trees were planted around the site of the recently-redeveloped Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The trees were planted as part of the NHS Forest project, a national programme that aims to improve the health of staff, patients and communities through increasing access to green space on, or near to, NHS land. The target is to plant 1.3 million trees - one for every NHS employee. Titchmarsh planted the trees in Bolsover Street to create a green pedestrian corridor from the hospital to Regents Park. The event also saw the return of two elm trees to the street - last present in the 1850s. Helen Duncan, senior sister, said: “Working in an environment where there is some greenery is a big improvement to our surroundings, which will not only benefit our staff, but patients visiting the centre as well.”
WAYFINDING: New signage for Bath hospital
WAYFINDING at the Royal United Hospital Bath will soon become much easier for patients and visitors as signage on the site is completely replaced. Work starts this month to take down the old colour-coded signs and put up new signs which will make finding wards or departments more straightforward. In future, the hospital will be divided into zones with all the signage in blue and dark blue, with the only exception being the emergency department, which will be signposted in red. New maps of the site are also being put up. Howard Jones, director of estates and facilities at the hospital, said: “The hospital is a big site with lots of wards and departments and finding your way around can sometimes be difficult. We’ve listened to the feedback of patients, visitors and staff and come up with a new system for navigating the hospital which is much more logical.” The work is expected to be completed by April.
RECYCLING: BMI signs three-year deal
This is an excellent opportunity for us to continue to grow the concept of our business, while securing more jobs for the future
IT DISPOSAL and recycling company, PRM Green Technologies, has secured a three-year contract with BMI Healthcare. PRM will perform quarterly collections from BMI’s 73 sites in compliance with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives. The deal was won in partnership with Orchid IT and PRM will further assist Orchid to deliver an end-to-end compliant solution. Tim Hawkins, PRM director, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for us to continue to grow the concept of our business, while securing more jobs for the future. The ability to continue to grow and be able to provide much-needed employment is a massive boost for the local economy. This contract confirms that we are moving in the right direction, while ensuring a greener future for the industry as a whole.” Dan Morgan, IT director for BMI parent company, General Healthcare, added: “This is an excellent and cost-effective method of disposing of our old IT equipment in an environmentally-friendly manner. The combination of Orchid’s quality customer service and PRM’s expertise are perfect for BMI.”
CATERING: New chair for HCA
THE Hospital Caterers Association has appointed a new chairman. Janice Gillan was elected to the position at the association’s annual general meeting and takes over the role from Kevan Wallace, who had completed a two-year term. Janice has been a member of the organisation for more than 16 years and was branch secretary from 1996-2008 and then chairman of the west of Scotland branch from 2008-2011. She also held the post of national vice chairman from 2009 to this year. She started her catering career as a trainee cook and worked her way through various positions. She is currently a senior catering manager at NHS Ayrshire & Arran. She said: “Tough challenges lie ahead for all of us within healthcare catering and the NHS. We will all be considering how we can continue to maintain quality hospital food, sourced as sustainably as possible and to deliver efficient catering services within an NHS that is facing the biggest budget cuts since it began. As the incoming chair, I will be focused on providing our members with as much support and guidance as possible so that they can continue to achieve high standards and safeguard the nutritional care of patients.”
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