Islanders get to see how PEH modernisation is progressing
ISLANDERS were given the chance to learn about progress on phase one of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital modernisation programme and what is proposed for phase two at a drop-in at Beau Sejour on Saturday.
Staff involved in the project were there to explain what will be happening at the hospital over the next eight years.
Modernisation programme director Jan Coleman said construction on a new critical care unit and theatre recovery ward had been approved and was now well under way.
Plans for phase two included a new main entrance, outpatients facility, new women’s and children’s wards, new private patients and orthopaedic facilities, a refurbished and extended theatre suite, new admissions and discharge unit, and an extended emergency department.
‘The States of Guernsey gave approval for this in 2019 and it’s supported by the Government Work Plan,’ she said.
Mike Read was among those looking at the plans.
The new facilities would be vital to providing health care in future, he said.
‘One of the biggest issues is the current waiting list and this will be a way to deal with it in the longer term,’ he said.
‘The pandemic showed the limitations of the current way that the hospital operates and this is about building resilience and providing a modern, up-to-date and effective health care system for the future.
‘It’s just a shame that we haven’t done it earlier.’
Steven Jones, retired, and wife, Amanda, were also supportive of the plans.
‘This will bring a patient-centric approach rather than a provider-centred one,’ he said.
‘Services are being brought to the outpatient unit so people will not have to trek between the various departments like they do at the moment.
‘The theatres will be future- proofed so things such as robotic surgery can be introduced when they become viable.’
It would also mean that fewer patients would have to be treated off-island.
Mr Jones added that he would have liked to have seen a multi-storey car park included in the plans, though.
Mrs Coleman said the upgraded hospital would benefit staff and the wider community.
It would be a best practice clinical environment to help them continue delivering the highest standards of clinical care.
It had take a considerable amount of work to get to where they were at the moment and this was a valued opportunity to show service users the plans for the next stage.
