28 August 2009
£1.1 million in funding was secured earlier this year to undertake a number of projects to improve the privacy and dignity experienced by patients at Epsom and St Helier hospitals. Most of these projects are now completed, with one of the improved areas already showing off their new facilities.
The clinical assessment unit (CAU) at St Helier Hospital is one of the first departments to unveil the finished work. The CAU treats patients who have been admitted to accident and emergency (A&E), but need further tests or have to be stabilised before they are transferred to a ward or can go home.
The improvements in the unit, which cost £130,000, include improved access to toilet and bathing facilities in bay areas, two new en-suite shower/toilets bathrooms for single rooms, three refurbished shower and toilet rooms, four extra sinks in the bay areas and extra privacy curtains in all bathrooms.
Rosemary Hunt, senior sister on the unit, said: "It's obvious that all of the improvements look great - the unit looks very modern and all of the bathing facilities are just lovely, but what's more important is the positive impact that this is having on the people we treat.
"Privacy and dignity is very important to our patients, which is why it's so important that we are able to offer patients great levels of care in an atmosphere that makes them feel comfortable."
But it's not just major building and plumbing works that have made a difference to the unit, some of the changes are simple but are very effective. For example, doors into two of the existing bathrooms for bay areas, which were entered from the corridor, have been changed so that patients don't have to leave their bay to gain access. An old office has been split into two separate rooms and is now an en-suite shower/toilet room and another separate toilet. A bathroom has also been converted into a single room with en suite toilet, bathing and storage facilities.
The Trust launched the £1.1 million scheme earlier this year to help ensure that men and women do not have to share sleeping areas, bathrooms or toilets when admitted to hospital.
£100,000 has been spent on new heart monitoring equipment for the coronary care units at both Epsom and St Helier hospitals. This mobile equipment will give staff greater levels of flexibility to treat patients with increased privacy, as they will be able to move patients to separate areas without compromising the ability to monitor their hearts.
In line with the improvements, a new leaflet is to be launched shortly, which gives patients more information and greater understanding of the ward accommodation available and the changes that have taken place.
Director of Nursing, Pippa Hart said: Director of Nursing, Pippa Hart said: "Whilst our general ward areas are already single-sex, these current improvements will ensure that the high quality treatment we provide to our patients is not undermined by patients feeling uncomfortable having to share toilet and bathroom facilities.
"The improvements will also allow us to focus on improving privacy and dignity in our more specialist areas, for instance in our coronary care units, where it is harder to separate patients for clinical reasons. Using new mobile technology, we will be able to move patients more freely and efficiently, granting them greater privacy, faster."
