£9m BOOST TO IMPROVE WARDS AT HOSPITAL

ALMOST £9m is being pumped into improving equipment, replacing all 300 beds and refurbishing wards at Nuneaton’s hospital – but huge savings still have to be made.

Glen Burley, the new chief executive at the George Eliot Hospital, unveiled plans to spend £8.9m on major improvements at the place of care.

But the purse-strings for elsewhere in the hospital are having to be tightened so that the ‘Eliot sticks to its agreed debt of £18.5m.

Most hospitals across the country are in debt, but the levels have to be agreed, and the hospitals says that ‘through productivity changes and efficiency savings’ they need to find £7m to hit the target.

Should this be achieved over the next financial year, it could unlock £4.2m from the government.

While the huge savings have to be made, there is also a focus on improving quality, hence the £8.9m investment.

A spokesperson for the George Eliot Hospital said: ”The spend on equipment and infrastructure, will include refurbishment of the Coronary Care Unit and A&E Majors (treating those patients who require a more thorough clinical assessment and may need a series of investigations or observation before definitive treatment can be determined.), fire alarm and telephone system upgrades.

“The spend will also include an upgrade to the Trust Wi-Fi and the replacement of patient beds. We aim to replace all patient beds (around 300) before the end of April 2019.”

Mr Burley, who has taken over from the former chief executive Kath Kelly, is at the helm of the hospital at a time when it is to undergo a huge change.

While it has been stressed that the hospital will remain as an independent organisation with its own board of directors, the ‘Eliot is set to join a foundation group alongside the South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) and Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT).

Mr Burley says it will enhance opportunities for sharing best practice, service improvement, adding: “Working with our foundation group partners I believe we will continue to improve care, ensuring local services for local people are maintained and enhanced by capitalising on opportunities for service improvement and integration. I look forward to a great future for George Eliot Hospital.”

At the annual AGM, it was also revealed that work on the innovative Health and Well Being Campus plans will continue, with the development of the site master plan.