A dedicated children’s wing, moving the fracture clinic and a new 18-bed surgical ward are among the big improvements planned at the Isle of Wight’s only hospital.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust is proposing 3 extensions for St Mary’s Hospital in Newport. Doors and windows would also be reconfigured in some areas, due to a change in the internal layout of the hospital.
In plans submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, agents on behalf of the Trust, Stride Treglown, say the works would deliver improvements to the healthcare service and provision on the Island.
In 3 separate projects, the intensive care unit (ICU), fracture clinic, urgent treatment centre (UTC), emergency department and acute ward will all be upgraded.
The first project would see the currently cramped ICU extended to hold 4 larger bed spaces in separate rooms, complying with NHS guidelines, as well as a staff communication base and gowning lobbies.
2 linked schemes make up the second project and would see the fracture clinic moved from the main block to the north of the site, with the existing clinic converted into an outpatient space. This part would also see the UTC moved to the edge of the emergency department so patients can access it easier.
It would also see adult and children patient flows separated, with a dedicated children’s wing and paediatric ambulance drop-off.
The third part would see the creation of an 18-bed surgical acute ward through a reconfiguration of the pathology area. Some windows would be blocked up and moved, along with new ones added, to ensure every bedroom has access to natural light.
You can view the plans, 22/00857/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 8th July.
The projects are part of the Trust’s £25.5 million estate improvement strategy, part of the £48 million awarded to it in 2019 by the Government.
The estate strategy was presented to the trust’s board in May and branded a catalyst for change, helping the health service reduce the burden of backlog maintenance and critical infrastructure risk, as previously reported by Island Echo.
It is hoped the projects, as well as the mental health hub in the former HMV on Newport High Street, will be completed by March 2024.
But STILL no Radiothrepy Unit
The chemo unit is also limited on what it can do at St Mary’s, fully support the Radiotherapy request as travel to mainland is exhausting. I had to have both at QA Portsmouth.
With the population boom what will 18 beds achieve? We need another hospital and like DJ states a radiotherapy unit. Cancer is on the increase more and more and travelling daily to the mainland for treatment is not a joy but a horror I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
That will be classed as a new hospital in Boris eyes.