Publish date: 15 March 2024
Ward at Blyth Community Hospital to be refurbished
The in-patient ward at a Northumberland community hospital is to be refurbished to further improve patient care and experience.
Blyth Community Hospital, which is part of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, delivers care for the elderly, outpatient clinics, radiology services and physiotherapy services.
This work, which will begin on Wednesday March 20 and is part of an on-going programme of investment by the trust to upgrade all its sites across North Tyneside and Northumberland, will improve the environment of the 26-bed in-patient ward. The ward mainly provides care for the elderly and rehabilitation.
To enable this three-month project to be done, patients who require overnight hospital care and would normally be admitted to the ward at Blyth Community Hospital, will temporarily be cared for in ward eight at Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington.
All other services provided from Blyth Community Hospital will continue as normal.
Paul McNeillie, deputy director of medicine and emergency care at Northumbria Healthcare, said: “We know how important it is to be able to provide care as close to home in our local communities. Doing this work demonstrates our commitment to this and to ensuring that we provide our patients with the best possible care and experience. Doing this work will also improve the experience of our staff working on the ward as the environment will be much improved.
“People should be assured that we will do everything we can to complete this project as quickly as possible and we thank people in advance for their understanding and patience.”
Work will involve painting the ward, fitting new doors, flooring, ceiling and lighting, and updating furniture. This will significantly modernise and improve the environment for all.
This work is part of a large investment programme by Northumbria Healthcare which has involved upgrading Wansbeck General Hospital theatres and wards at both Wansbeck and North Tyneside General Hospitals. The in-patient ward and out-patients area at Alnwick Infirmary have also recently been refurbished.
There is continued investment at Hexham General Hospital in a state-of-the-art endoscopy suite and maternity units and an expansion of the theatres department. There are also plans to refurbish the oncology ward and dental unit. In the north of the trust’s patch, it is also currently building a new community hospital in Berwick.
Cara Charlton, Head of PR
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