Harrogate District Hospital’s intensive care unit has completed a £1 million refurbishment.
The 12-week refurbishment has increased capacity, meaning the unit can now care for 11 patients rather than 10, and created a better environment.
Ross Stewart, a patient on the unit for many weeks in 2020 pre-covid, returned today to cut a ribbon before patients were transferred back in.
The unit was stripped down to its shell and rebuilt. Five of the 11 beds now have their own side rooms.
The hospital’s experience of the pandemic shaped the new design. For instance, the side rooms help to contain infections.
The unit has new TVs, flooring, ceilings and doors. Wall cladding and dimmable lights have been installed, and there are wall murals and LED ceiling panels featuring blue skies, clouds and trees in two of the side rooms.
The more open design means nurses can see all the patients from their station.
Daylight, open space and a clean feel are key features of the new design.
The last 12 months have been unprecedented for hospital staff. ICU staff have been caring for numbers never seen before.
Intensive care consultant Dr Sarah Marsh said:
“This has gone above and beyond what we could have expected. It’s not just about surviving it’s about giving that survivorship some quality and the environment in the ICU plays a huge part in that.
“Something as simple as having more natural light and dimmable lights is very important for the patients. The unit will really help to improve patients’ outcomes for sure.”
Read more:
- North Yorkshire health leader says Oxford-AstraZeneca jab is safe.
- New base for Harrogate’s mental health team yet to be found.
The increase in patients due to covid forced the unit to relocate into a larger ward, which presented the opportunity to refurbish the unit without disturbing patients.
The Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity donated some of the funds for the work, which enabled a relatives’ room to offer a pull-down bed for relatives to stay in.
