More building works are on the cards for the Isle of Wight’s hospital as the stroke unit is on the move and a roof needs to be raised.
New plans have been submitted by the Isle of Wight NHS Trust to renovate part of the existing Newcroft building, which currently holds the stroke unit, into fracture and imaging clinics.
It ties in with the major works currently underway next door to the Newcroft building, at St Mary’s Hospital, in Newport, constructing the £10 million community diagnostic centre.
The fracture and imaging clinics support the purpose behind the new centre, facilitating earlier diagnostic testing and improving outpatient care.
It also helps the trust’s overall plan to bring together the outpatient departments at the north end of the hospital, planning documents say.
To make the Newcroft building suitable for the clinics’ relocation, part of the existing roof needs to be demolished and then raised to accommodate x-ray equipment and a new air handling unit.
New waiting facilities could also be created for three outpatient departments in the new internal layout.
Once the works are done, it would connect directly to the new community diagnostic centre waiting area, the existing phlebotomy department and corridor to the main hospital.
You can view the plans, 23/01401/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s website. Comments can be submitted until September 18.
These new units are all very well in theory, but when it comes down to the basics they are being built in the least accessible area possible. The north hospital is a long way – and uphill – from the bus stop so patients with mobility or breathing problems can’ t get there easily. Car parking up there is woefully inadequate now and will only become more so
It seems to me that the hospital is being designed for the average patient as defined by computer and nobody is looking out for the real people who attend.
Do they have staff to cover them?
No, They don’t have full staffing levels anywhere in the hospital
This will be the issue. Finding staff that can live here and stay as well is a huge problem.
The pool to choose from isn’t that great either. I hope it works but it’s a huge task
What is or has happened to the psychology patients that are/were located in newcroft ?
Sevenacres is the Psychiatric building. It’s on the hospital site but separate to the main hospital at the back behind the helicopter pad.
All sounds great but where will they get decent imaging staff from? Never enough as it is. Relocating to the island is a big ask for many. Why put it in the north of the hospital? Patients struggle with immobility and general health problems.
Managers making decisions as usual not staff on the ground