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Hospital opens new wards with 56 beds

Ellen Knightin Shrewsbury
News imageELLEN KNIGHT/BBC Gill and Michelle stood side by side, smiling and looking into the camera. Gill, on the left, is wearing a dark blue nurse's uniform and a yellow name badge. Michelle is wearing a bright red nurse's uniform and a yellow name badge too. They're stood in a long, white corridor with blue window and door frames. ELLEN KNIGHT/BBC
Gill Joseph and Michelle Cole said their teams are "excited" to start work

Two new wards have been opened at a hospital, providing space for an extra 56 patients.

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has unveiled the new spaces for colorectal and gastroenterology patients, and it is hoped they will help take the pressure off other parts of the hospital.

The wards are "modular", meaning they were constructed off-site and then put together at the hospital.

Ward matron Gill Joseph said it will "make a huge difference to patients and staff," adding that there is "a lot more space and a lot more privacy for patients."

The new wards have bays with four beds that can be separated by curtains, with an en-suite shower and loo in every bay.

There are also end-of-life care suites in the complex for patients and their loved ones.

"We're very very lucky - we now have an environment that's lovely for patients," Ms Joseph added.

"Everything is brand new, and it's purpose-built."

News imageELLEN KNIGHT/BBC A photo of a ward with one single bed in it with blue and white sheets. The walls are painted light blue, and there are white cabinets and table set against the wall. There's also a dark blue armchair by the bed. The ceiling is white, and directly above the bed are LED panels showing a view of the sky and a cherry blossom tree. ELLEN KNIGHT/BBC
The complex also has an end-of-life care suite with a simulated skylight

Michelle Cole, the divisional director of nursing, said that "just over 40" registered nurses and healthcare assistants have been recruited for the new unit alongside existing staff.

"It's really exciting," she said, adding that "from a staff morale point of view, it's really uplifted [us]."

There will be a tinge of sadness moving out of the old ward, Ms Cole said, as the team "have a lot of memories there", but they are excited for the change as staff "know that the environment here is just incredible."

News imageELLEN KNIGHT/BBC Nick pictured smiling and looking into the camera. He's wearing a blue and white striped collared shirt, a cream cable-knit jumper and a dark grey wool herringbone coat. He's stood in a bay with two hospital beds visible over his left shoulder, which have green sheets and blue armchairs next to them. The walls of the room are light pink, and the floor and ceiling are white. ELLEN KNIGHT/BBC
Nick Taylor spent 10 months at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Nick Taylor, 65, is from Newport and spent 10 months on the old colorectal ward, following diagnoses of peritonitis and sepsis after suffering a perforated bowel.

The former long-term patient was invited back to the hospital to formally open the brand-new wards.

"It's just an honour," Mr Taylor said, adding that he and his wife Maggie "made some good friends" at the hospital during his stay.

"To be here today to open the two new modular buildings is tremendous," he said, observing that the new facilities are "so much improved."

"I did spend a long time in hospital, but having seen what I'm seeing today, I was probably a few months late - I wish I'd come in now!"

News imageELLEN KNIGHT/BBC Ned pictured smiling and looking into the camera. He's wearing a white collared shirt and a dark grey suit jacket. He's stood in one of the hospital rooms, which has white walls and a white ceiling. ELLEN KNIGHT/BBC
Ned Hobbs said the new wards offer a "more therapeutic recovery environment"

"This has been a multi-million pound investment, we've had NHS England support for which we're very grateful," said Ned Hobbs, the chief operating officer at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust (SaTH).

He added that the former colorectal ward will be repurposed for general medical patients, which will create "more inpatient capacity in total on the site".

Ultimately, he said, it will "enable us to admit patients in a more timely fashion from the emergency department," meaning patients arriving by ambulance can be received.

Mr Hobbs added that the new wards are "much more comfortable" with increased natural light and space.

"It creates a sense of calm, so it's a more therapeutic recovery environment - and those benefits support our staff as well."

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