Work continues on £43,6m unit at Western General Hospital
Landmark centre for elderly, rheumatology and dermatology services
Work is pushing ahead on the construction of the new £43.6m Royal Victoria Building at Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, which will offer single-room accommodation for elderly, rheumatology and dermatology patients.
Designed to become a landmark for privacy and dignity in healthcare, the interior of the purpose-built facility is taking shape as the corridors, single bedrooms, garden and day rooms begin to emerge from the building’s shell.
The first of the 12 units was ‘locked down’ in late October – meaning that all the internal work, painting, flooring and fixtures has been completed, leaving construction workers free to move on to the next units.
The specially-designed features include bathroom pods, extra-large windows and bright and airy rooms.
Sue Gardiner, project manager, said: “This a really exciting time for the development. We have been working at the drawing board for a long time to ensure that patients have the highest quality environment in a facility which meets their exacting needs, so it is marvellous to see these things coming to life.” Dining rooms and day rooms have been created to let the patients, who are able to move around, mingle when they choose and have privacy when they require. Staff bases are also spread around wards to encourage more interaction with clinicians and patients, while windows have been designed to allow staff to see the whole room at once and help them react swiftly to any potential problems. The project is due to be handed over to NHS Lothian in April.
