7 February 2011
The day surgery unit at Epsom Hospital is being completely overhauled following a huge £2.5 million cash injection.
The multi-million pound project, funded by the Trust's £10 million capital development programme, means the day surgery and endoscopy unit (where patients' digestive and respiratory systems are examined using miniscule cameras) will be transformed into a state-of-the-art treatment centre housing the latest equipment and technology.
Matthew Hopkins is the Chief Executive of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. He said: "This is the biggest project at Epsom Hospital in years - and it is absolutely fantastic news for our patients. We are extending the unit and increasing the number of beds from 13 to 18, meaning more patients will be able to get the treatment and tests they need, faster than ever before.
"Endoscopy tests can detect life-threatening cancers, and the sooner they are detected, the sooner patients can start treatment which, in turn, could save their life.
"But we're not just increasing the size of the unit, we're completely redesigning it around our patients. For example, men and women will be treated in wholly single-sex areas from the moment they step through the door of the unit, to the moment they leave, whether they are talking to a doctor, recovering from treatment, or walking to the bathroom."
The new unit will include:
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five new consulting rooms, allowing patients to discuss their treatment and results with greater privacy;
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two new state-of-the-art endoscopy treatment rooms;
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brand new separate recovery wards for both men and women having surgery, complete with separate bathrooms;
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a new recovery area for surgical patients, with a separate area for children;
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a new recovery ward for endoscopy patients;
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a cutting edge decontamination unit for cleaning, processing and storing the endoscopes;
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brand new changing areas for patients and staff;
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a new waiting room;
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a new reception area;
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new offices and staff rooms.
And it doesn't stop there. The areas will all be kitted out with brand new lights and curtains, new windows, and new furniture for patients and visitors.
Mr Ashraf Raja is the Trust's lead doctor for endoscopy and has worked for the Trust for over 10 years. He said: "In 1990, we were seeing between 1,500 and 2,000 patients who needed endoscopic procedures a year. This year we will see over 8,000.
"With the rise in numbers of patients, it is vital that we continue to treat them as quickly as possible. The investment is also great news for patients who require regular tests, such as those with illnesses like colitis (inflammation of the colon), Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease), and screening for respiratory or chest diseases.
"The new decontamination unit is absolutely state-of-the-art too. Not only does it ensure our equipment is fantastically clean, it also electronically tracks our medical instruments all over our hospitals - so we know exactly where each one is at any given time. This means our patients are as safe as they can possibly be.
"The redesigned unit will also mean improved facilities for teaching and training medical students, junior doctors, nurses and other staff."
Councillor Sandy Sanger is Chairman of the Social Committee at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and supports the investment. She said: "£2.5 million is a significant and substantial investment at any time, but with the financial challenge we face in the UK it is a truly admirable commitment.
"Not only will it mean excellent new facilities for patients, it also demonstrates the Trust's commitment to ensuring Epsom Hospital has the best possible future."
Matthew Hopkins added: "We are absolutely committed to improving the services we provide to the 700,000 patients we treat each year, including buying new technology and upgrading our wards, clinics and operating theatres. Last year we spent nearly £10 million on improving our three sites, with a similar figure proposed for 2011."
Epsom Hospital carries out the vast majority of planned surgery for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, and patients treated in day surgery include those needing orthopaedic (bone), ophthalmology (eye), hernia, ear, nose and throat operations.
The scheme, which commenced on 1 February 2011, is such a significant project that the unit will close for approximately eight months while the work is underway. During this time, patients will be scheduled to alternative theatres at Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals. The new unit will open in autumn 2011.
