10 November 2014
End of inpatient care at one of Bristol's oldest hospitals
The Bristol Royal Infirmary's Old Building
opened in 1735, and has provided healthcare to the people of
Bristol ever since.
On Thursday 13 November 2014, the final
inpatient wards will move out of the Old Building as a result of
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust's £143 million
redevelopment programme. The patients currently cared for in the
Old Building will move into the hospital's Queen's Building and
newly constructed ward block.
The closure of the oldest part of the
Trust's estate marks one of the most significant milestones in the
redevelopment programme, which will ultimately lead to all patients
receiving their treatment in state of the art environments which
support the use of 21st century models of care.
Dr Peter Collins, clinical chair for the
division of medicine commented: "The Old Building was provided by
the people of Bristol and was the foundation stone for today's
Trust. It has a two hundred and eighty year history of being at the
heart of care in the city." He added: "The provision of healthcare
has changed immeasurably since the Old Building first admitted
patients, and the new infrastructure we are in the process of
opening ensures we are in position to continue providing the
absolute best care for our patients."
In the past week, two brand new,
state-of-the-art medical assessment units have opened at the
hospital. The 32 bedded Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) is based on
level three of the recently constructed ward block and features a
combination of four bed bays and single bed rooms, offering
patients greater privacy and dignity.
The Older Persons Assessment Unit (OPAU) is
on level four of the ward block and is designed to cater to the
specific needs of older patients visiting the hospital. The unit
has 30 beds, again combining single rooms and four bed bays.
The patient environment is enhanced by
"Terrell" a large art installation which also serves to reduce
unwanted echoes in the open space, as well as photographic art
produced by Simon Roberts, with each floor featuring a distinct
theme. All of the art projects - as well as four individual rooms
in the OPAU - are being generously funded by the hospitals' charity
Above & Beyond, through their Golden Gift Appeal.
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Media contact: Lewis Lippiatt
Tel: 01173 423751
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