Emergency department undergoes a cosmetic revamp
A revamp of the emergency department (ED) at Stoke Mandeville Hospital has recently been completed. The improvements were made possible after a fixed budget of £500,000 was gifted by our Sodexo partners earlier this year to make cosmetic improvements to the department, which had become a little faded. The funds were provided as part of a contract renegotiation.
A project group was assembled with representatives from the senior clinical team in ED, our Trust estates and property services team and our contracted service supplier, Sodexo. ED staff drew up a wish list and the project team swung into action.
An enormous amount of planning and communication was required to ensure our emergency services could continue as usual while temporarily relocated to allow contractors access to refurbish the area within a tight turnaround time of just 21 days.
The work was completed on deadline earlier this month and has provided new lighting, flooring, desks, radiator covers, doors and cubical curtains. It also delivered a new nurse call system and a nurses’ station plus a brand-new staff changing room with lockers and extra storage space. Another much needed and welcomed improvement is a relatives’ room which now provides a quiet, peaceful space where difficult conversations can take place in private.
According to Mansi Patel, General Manager ED and Acute Medicine: “It’s the brightness of the department and the clear line of sight from one end to the other that has made the biggest difference, along with the lovely relatives’ room and proper changing facilities for colleagues.”
The whole project is testament to the willingness and hard work of all involved who pulled together to make a big difference in one of the busiest areas of the Trust.