25 January 2012
The multi-million pound overhaul of the day surgery and endoscopy unit (where patients' digestive and respiratory systems are examined using miniscule cameras) at Epsom Hospital is now complete, with the first patients already coming through the doors to the brand new department.
The £2.5 million project, which began in February of last year, has seen a top-to-toe revamp and refurbishment of the unit, including:
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£615,000 spent on new recovery rooms (which includes separate areas for men and women having surgery, complete with separate bathrooms);
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£360,000 on creating five new consulting and treatment rooms and refurbishing the existing ones;
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£355,000 on new equipment, including the technology used in our decontamination room (where all of the equipment goes for sterile cleaning, processing and storing); and a new stack system (the computer and screen that processes and shows the images from inside the patient).
Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins said: "This is the biggest project Epsom Hospital has seen in years - and it is absolutely fantastic news for our patients. 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.
"It is a wonderful facility that houses the very best technology available, helping us to ensure that our patients can get the care that they need quickly, and in a very bright and welcoming environment.
"In addition to that, the expertly-designed layout means that our patients will benefit from the highest possible levels of privacy and dignity throughout their stay with us. 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 Rt Hon Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom and Ewell and Minister of State for Employment said: "This new investment is really good news for Epsom and I believe it will strengthen the future of the hospital. It's also a great facility for local patients."
Importantly, the refurbishment and redesign was led by the unit's doctors and nurses, who used their expert knowledge to make sure that the new layout is as safe and efficient as it possibly can be.
And, by expanding into an outside courtyard and making improvements to the surrounding corridors, we have been able to increase the size of the unit and the number of beds it has from 13 to 18. This means that more patients can get the treatment and tests they need, faster than ever before.
Other improvements include:
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£167,000 on building a state-of-the-art decontamination room (where all of the equipment goes for sterile cleaning, processing and storing);
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£79,000 on improving patient waiting rooms and staff offices;
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£57,000 on new bathroom areas and washrooms.
Mr Ashraf Raja is the Trust's lead consultant for endoscopy. He said: "It has been a lot of hard work, but the new unit is simply wonderful. It's bigger, it's stocked full of state-of-the-art equipment and with its fresh and bright atmosphere, it is a fantastic environment for our patients to be treated and recover in."
Senior sister on the unit, Joy Stillman said: "There are some incredible touches to the whole department, including our brand new nurse call system, which tracks where staff members are within the unit. This new piece of kit means that we can get in touch with the staff members that we need at the touch of a button.
"Each area has been kitted out with brand new lights and curtains, new windows, and new furniture for patients and visitors. We are all very proud of the improvements and very pleased to be seeing patients in the unit already."
The multi-million pound project was funded by the Trust's annual capital development programme, which last year saw more £9.6 million of new investment across our hospitals.
Matthew added: "We are absolutely committed to improving the services we provide to the hundreds of thousands of patients we treat across our hospitals 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 2012."
