Harrowden wards refurbishment phase 1 complete

Harrowden A – which has been closed since March - re-opens for business on Monday (September 7).

The re-opening marks the completion of the first part of a planned  £4.7m transformation of the whole of the Harrowden floor into two L-shaped state-of-the-art wards by summer of 2010.

This in turn is part of the hospital’s longer term multi-million pound ward refurbishment programme which began in early 2008.

Chief Executive, Dr Mark Newbold, said: “The transformation of some of our main medical wards – the Harrowdens – will make a big difference to the care we provide.

“These wards date back to the 1960s and were really in need of complete modernisation.

“Monday’s (September 7) opening will mark the first part of the revamp with Harrowden B and C following on.”

Service manager Maxine White said: “The transformation has made a major difference.

“The new ward is now light, airy, modern with much more space and better privacy for patients.

“Our overall plan for the Harrowden floor (currently made up of Harrowden A, B and C wards) is to turn it into two L-shaped ward blocks split into seven bays.

“Each bay will have only three beds in it compared to up to six at the moment.

“Each bay will have its own toilet, shower and wash basins. All of the surfaces in the ward, including the ceiling, will be made of special antibacterial materials and be designed so that they can easily be kept scrupulously clean.

“Instead of having doctor/nurses stations in a corridor away from patients we will have them at the head of each bay so that doctors and nurses can much more easily stay in touch with patients’ needs.

“There will be six side rooms in each ward block where patients can have even greater privacy or be isolated if they have an infection of any sort.

“The overall result will be a much improved environment both for our medical patients and for our staff who are very much looking forward to moving in.”

When the refurbishment of the Harrowden floor is complete the number of beds being provided on it will fall from 96 to 57 but with the addition of Clifford ward (20 beds) and with new ways of working in the health system, overall the hospital will still have enough beds for all patients in normal circumstances.