28 June 2012
Delivering care to the people of Bristol for the past 100 years
The King Edward VII Memorial Infirmary, that forms part of the
Bristol Royal Infirmary, was officially opened by King George V and
Queen Mary 100 years ago today.
The building was originally devoted to surgical, casualty and
special departments. It could accommodate 181 patients, in addition
to the 270 beds provided at the BRI Old Building. At the time the
two hospitals and a nurses' home were put at the disposable of the
War Office, as it was necessary to provide a base hospital in
Bristol as a precaution. The King Edward Building was the first
instalment of a bigger redevelopment scheme at the hospital so that
services could be improved for its patients.
Deborah Lee, director of strategic development at UH Bristol,
says:
"The Trust continues to improve services for its patients and
provide healthcare in the best possible environment.
"As part of the major redevelopment of the Bristol Royal
Infirmary site, inpatient services will be moved out of the King
Edward Building and into the new BRI ward block when it is complete
in 2014.
"The King Edward Building will be used for some outpatients'
services, office space and multi-faith facilities which will
support the closure of the Old BRI Building."
The King Edward Building currently houses inpatient wards for
urology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, vascular surgery and a
medical short stay unit. Inpatient services will move to the new
ward block in 2014.
The new ward block will include an integrated assessment unit; a
purpose built short stay unit; a state-of-the-art intensive care
unit; a surgical floor; a medical floor and a helipad on the roof
of the BRI.
Recently the Trust celebrated laying the last foundation of the
new ward block and received full planning permission by Bristol
City Council for the new BRI Welcome Centre. The Trust will start
work on the Welcome Centre this summer and it is expected to be
completed by the end of 2013.
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