Smart new rooms welcomed by all
PATIENTS AND STAFF FEEL THE BENEFIT OF FACILITIES
AFTER a £200,000 investment, brand new resuscitation rooms have opened at the South Tyneside District Hospital’s A&E – and NHS staff are big fans.
The new rooms have individual patient rooms rather than an open-plan set up – making it safer – and “smart glass” technology that allows medics to frost the glass and ensure privacy whenever necessary, simply by pressing a button. The new area is purpose built and has five new rooms, which NHS bosses say means more privacy and dignity for the most vulnerable.
There is also an extended area that can be used to treat cardiac or trauma patients, and the new facility is integrated with the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust’s electronic patient records system too. Meanwhile, video-link technology means staff in South Tyneside can welcome the input of colleagues at Sunderland Royal whenever needed.
The trust’s clinical lead for emergency medicine Dr Sanjay Kumar said: “Previously we just had curtains between beds, now we have these rooms which are so much nicer for patients and for us too. The team here absolutely love it, they are so positive about it. It is better for them to work in and it gives the patients so much more privacy and a better experience during the time they are with us.
“The new facility is much brighter and lighter, making it a much nicer space to work in. I want to say how grateful we are to our management, who have been so supportive of this work, it will make such a difference for staff and patients.”
The South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust has also recently launched a new MRI scanning service for heart patients, while work continues on South Tyneside Hospital’s new Integrated Diagnostic Centre, which is set to open in 2023.