bloomingyeovil

Modular ward

• Work is continuing to complete our new modular ward, which was craned onto the roof of the hospital at the end of year. This innovative ward will become our new 24-bed emergency assessment unit (a space for assessing those who have been admitted as emergencies and who need to be assessed for admission, onward care or discharge), providing much needed additional capacity and helping us to better utilise the entire hospital for the benefit of patients. 
• The current phases of work are to develop the access to the ward and to prepare the interior. Opening is scheduled for early February.
• The hospital chose to implement a modular ward as it makes best use of our restricted site (we have very limited space to build ‘outwards’ due to our urban location) .

Car park

• With more people attending our hospital each year – many arriving by car – we need to improve the quantity and quality of car parking for patients, visitors and staff. This month (January ‘16), we begin work on a new multi-storey car park, providing 656 parking spaces in a modern, accessible development.  
• We will also be constructing a new road to link Higher Kingston and the A37 (Kingston) to ease congestion on the hospital site, improve access, and reduce hospital traffic on local streets.

How will it happen?

• Building our multi-storey car park is a big operation and will happen over several phases across the year. Below are the first two.

1. Phase 1: After the closure of Car Park 2 on 25 January, the developers will start preparing the site, including demolishing the bungalows and one other property, and building retaining walls
2. Phase 2: Work begins on the foundations and steel ‘frame’ of the car park, as well as the carriageway of the A47 as part of developing the hospital’s new-one way system.

And finally:

• I always thought “Junior Doctors” were newly qualified, but that is not the case, they could be any doctor in a hospital below a consultant, their age is not an issue, a 40 year old Doctor with 15 years experience could still be referred to as a “Junior Doctor”. ——- “I learn new things every day”.