West Suffolk Hospital has opened a dedicated ward to help prevent the spread of potentially life-threatening infections such as C.difficile and MRSA.
As part of a £40,000 project, ward F12 has been refurbished and converted into a dedicated isolation facility. It will be used to segregate patients with high-risk infections, reducing the chances of the illness spreading to others.
The ward is made up of eight single rooms, most of which have en-suite toilet and shower facilities. All of the staff recruited to work in the isolation facility have specific expertise and training in infection control to make sure patients receive the best possible care.
Gary Ingalla, senior matron for medicine, said: “This development comes as part of the trust’s ongoing commitment to further improve the environment for patients while providing the best possible standards of infection prevention.
“The new unit will allow us to manage our patients much more effectively by isolating anyone with C.difficile or MRSA who is at risk of spreading an infection to others. This will make a huge difference to patients with infectious diseases and to their outcomes.
“As well as improving the experience they have of using the hospital, the unit will also reduce the chances of someone who is already frail and vulnerable developing further problems.”
Previously, 32 side rooms spread across the hospital were used to isolate patients with infection. These rooms will now be earmarked for other patients who require additional privacy.