Page 6 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • February 2001 www.swir
St
A hospital fit for the 21 century
PHILIP STONE
Last month former West Swindon GP Ian Matheson wrote about the concerns of doctors in the early 1990s,
PAINTER & during the initial planning stages for Swindon's new hospital, that it would be too small. Here Chris Birdsall,
communications officer for the Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, explains that the hospital rapidly rising
DECORATOR at Commonhead has been designed with future needs in mind.

For a high standard The one question eve ryone asks about our new hospital is 'will it be big enough?'
of work We have planned for the more complex op-
References available our new hospital very erations requiring spe-
carefully taking the in- cialist equipment and
Telephone now for a creasing population staff, for example for a
into account. With a by-pass operation, it will
FREE ESTIMATE
careful blend of hos- be necessary for patients
pital care, home care to continue to travel to
Tel: 870515 or
and care in other 'in- Oxford and Bristol
Mobile 0374 - 208527 termediate' facilities We will have more in-
which bridge the gap tensive care facilities
between hospital and with a unit comprising
home, we are confi- six intensive care beds
dent that the people of and six high dependency
Wfa^i10N
Swindon and district beds. The latter are new
F C will be well provided in Swindon and will be
for.
for patients who do not
BUILDING The new hospital will have 460 The new hospital will reflect the have intensive care needs but who
in-patient beds and 84 day care trends in health care which will need more nursing and monitor-
SERVICES beds. A further 60 beds are being mean more day treatment facili- ing than is possible on general
planned for an intermediate care ties. The current hospital has been wards.
Extensions, Alterations, unit alongside the main hospital. constantly adapted to cope with The new hospital will also in-
We are actively working with other the expanding population and elude a kidney dialysis unit which
Renovations
agencies such as social services, changes in clinical treatment. Part will have the capacity for 10 ma-
All aspects of garden the community trust and primary of the rationale of the new hospital chines. Equipment will transfer
construction including fencing care groups on the number of ex- has been to recognise that this ad- from the existing temporary unit
tra beds and services that will be aptation had gone as far as possi- in Swindon.
All general building work
needed in Swindon to meet the ble, given the constraints of the Given the overall increase in
Tel: Mr J.F. Keenan needs of those people who no PMH site and existing buildings. services in the new hospital, the
longer need acute care but who do The new pattern of departments introduction of intermediate care
(01793) 727824
need time for recuperation or re- and facilities on the new site will and the community care facilities,
habilitation. enable us to offer improved serv- the system overall will be much
ices to the people of Swindon and more able to cope. It is not realistic
North Wilts, to focus entirely on the hospital as
SUPERGLIDE beds planned for the new hospital, all parts of the health service need
Whilst there are fewer in patient
to be able to be flexible to cope
WARDROBES this is the only part of the develop- with peaks of demand over short
ment which is smaller. All other periods of time.
departments are expanding which
is why clinical space at Common-
The Bedroom Specialists head will be 19% bigger. The extra BBC protesters
community based facilities which
are being planned will offset the d e I i g ht
reduction in in-patient beds and Listeners to BBC Wiltshire Sound
will also provide more appropri- I who campaigned against pro-
ate care. gramme changes last September
Within our new hospital there are delighted that station man-
will be three major areas for surgi- ager Vernon Harwood left on 19
cal patients: a much expanded day j January, two weeks earlier than
surgery unit,a short stay unit for he had previously announced.
patients likely to stay less than 72 Mr Harwood caused great up-
hours and a normal type of in- set by axing popular broadcaster
patient ward. These will protect Shirley Ludford and moving mid-
elective patients (ie people who week personality Sandy Martin to
* Superb award winning wardrobes made to measure have booked operations or treat- the weekend lunch time slot. He is
in our workshops ment as opposed to those who are returning to Radio Gloucester as a
brought in as emergencies) from breakfast show presenter.
* Our wardrobes will utilise being disrupted by emergency Carol Payton will be caretaker
your storage space to the admissions or patients who are station manager until the new ap-
maximum waiting for other services. pointment, Tony Worgan, takes
There will be a cardiac care unit over in early March.
* Wide range to choose from which will include a coronary care Avid Wiltshire Sound listener
in the comfort of your own home unit for critically ill patients and John Myram from Covingham said
"step down" beds for people fit Mr Harwood had upset a lot of
* A local company with 15 years experience built on quality
enough to be discharged from this people with unnecessary changes.
& service with excellent guarantees on all products unit but who will remain in the "He was a very difficult person
Call now for free estimate overall vicinity of the cardiac unit. and I know morale amongst staff
There will be improved diagnostic
had hit rock bottom. There is great
on 01793 861584 and treatment facilities with seven optimism for the future with a new
stations within the cardiac area but person in charge."