Good Hope Hospital’s new £26m ward block development has entered the final commissioning phase, with clinical teams and their patients expected to move into the impressive four story building from the middle of next month.
The multi-million pound investment for the Hospital boasts four state-of-the-art wards, all with new, specialist facilities to further develop and improve patient services. The design of the building has been led by the medical and nursing staff who will be occupying the new Ward Block, alongside architects, from the project’s inception to ensure each area offers the best environment for patients, visitors and staff alike. With the latest medical equipment, furnishings and locally sourced art work chosen by the new building’s staff ready to be installed, the final few weeks before the new building opens is proving to be an exciting time for Good Hope Hospital.
The ground floor will accommodate a Clinical Decisions Unit and a Discharge And Treatment of the Elderly Unit (DATE Unit). The DATE Unit will provide multi- disciplinary, specialist care for older people at the Hospital’s front door near to A&E. Some of the region’s sickest patients will be treated on the first floor of the ward block, where there will be an Intensive Care and High Dependency Unit. Heart patients will benefit from a new Coronary Care Unit and Cardiac Ward on the second floor, and on the third floor there will be a Short Stay Elderly Ward and Hyper Acute Stroke Unit.
Coronary heart disease causes around 94,000 deaths in the UK each year and with one in five men and one in seven women dying from the illness; Heartlands Hospital is hosting a public seminar on the country’s biggest killer.
The talk, hosted by consultant cardiologist Dr Kaeng Lee, will look into symptoms and affects of coronary heart disease as well as giving essential information and advice on treating the illness.
Dr Lee said: “Angina is the most common symptom of coronary heart disease and affects around 2 million people in the UK. Members of the public who attend the seminar will be able to get expert advice and tips on keeping your heart healthy.”
The event is taking place at Heartlands Hospital on Tuesday 25 January in the Hospitals education centre from 3pm. To find out more, please contact membership manager Sandra White on 0121 424 0655 or emailsandra.white@heartofengland.nhs.uk
With the region being labelled as the fattest in the country, medics at Heartlands Hospital are calling for action on this weighty issue.
Dr Taheri, weight management specialist, explains: “The West Midlands has the highest level of obesity in the UK with 29 per cent of adults currently classed as obese, nearly double that of the EU which is just 14 per cent”.
“Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for weight management. Those who want to lose weight should avoid crash diets and instead look at changing their lifestyle in order to lose weight healthily. For those who have other health problems such as diabetes, this can be more difficult but it is important people see this as an important issue and are willing to get the help they need.”
“As one of the UK’s largest obesity clinics, Heartlands Hospital offers an extensive programme for patients that doesn’t just perform gastric operations but looks more closely at the needs of the individual patients and their lifetime care.”
“Obesity is often seen as a self inflicted problem with many negative associations, but many of the people we see have underlying issues and we very much focus on the all round care of our patients.”
Adrian Brown, specialist weight management dietitian, said: “It is important that people understand that gastric operations are not a quick fix to losing weight and it involves a lifelong change in lifestyle.”
“We work very closely with patients to manage their condition and ensure they are aware of all the factors involved in weight loss surgery.”
Solihull Hospital children’s outpatient’s clinic received a splash of colour this week thanks to talented students at Our Lady of the Wayside Roman Catholic Primary School in Shirley.
The students from years 1 to 6 used pens, collage, cross hatching and pointillism to create a series of portraits, and were delighted to have their work featured in the Hospital.
Hospital arts coordinator Sarah McGrory, said: “We are very grateful to the students who have helped make the area bright and cheerful. The Children’s outpatient clinic exhibits artwork from local schools on a regular basis. The work really helps make the area welcoming and somewhere patients, staff and visitors can feel comfortable and enjoy their surroundings.”
For more information, or if you are interested in having your artwork featured at Solihull Hospital, contact Sarah McGrory on 0121 424 0113.
Heart of England Foundation Trust appointed its first ever young governors in a bid to make sure the voices of young people are heard when it comes to the management of the Trust.
Max Stirk and Michael Strange, both age 17, from King Edward VI School in Bartley Green, applied for the position of governors after attending a monthly health seminar.
Max Stirk, young governor, said: “I was so excited to be chosen as one of the first young people to be a governor. I am looking forward to sharing the views of my peers by adding a different perspective on the way patients are treated and cared for.”
Michael Strange, young governor, said: “This is a great opportunity and I am really happy I have been chosen. After attending the health seminar, I was really interested in how I could get involved and make a difference.”
Sandra White said: “The role young governor will mean the boys can play an active part in the decision making of the hospital. As a Trust we recognised that we treat a variety of different people and want our governor’s to represent this. Having Michael and Max as young governor’s means they can represent and share the views of young people. In turn the Trust can then deliver a service which meets the needs of this group of people.”
The Trust hold monthly health seminars covering a variety of topics from glaucoma to ovarian cancer.
For more information or if you would like to become a Trust member please contact Sandra White on 0121 424 1218.
