East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has opened a new critical care unit for the ‘sickest patients’ in the area.
The new 24-bed critical care unit, funded through a £14 million national NHS investment, will contain four separate six-bed treatment areas, each with two isolation rooms, as well as dedicated areas for family and visitors,
Additionally, the two-storey unit has a dedicated staff and wellbeing area complete with a state-of-the-art simulation training suite, dedicated rest areas, changing rooms and workspaces on the unit’s second floor.
Dr Mark Snazelle, the Lead Doctor for Critical Care, commented on the opening of the new unit: “This new unit is a fantastic boost for our team and is the best possible environment for us to care for our most critically ill patients. After months of designing, planning, building, testing and training, we are ready for our first patients.”
Yvonne Davis, William Harvey Hospital’s longest-serving Nurse, who opened the new unit, said: “It’s been exciting to see the plans for the new unit develop and help get the unit ready to open. I am so proud of the team, and I can’t wait for my first shift on this fantastic new unit!”
Tracey Fletcher, Chief Executive, added: “The experience gained through the challenges of the Covid pandemic has enabled our clinical teams to design and help deliver an outstanding new critical care unit that will help us significantly improve care for our patients.”
In other news, Plans for a new £47 million Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at Scarborough Hospital, part of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust, have received formal approval, and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new one-stop outpatient clinic service.
