£53 million building project for Hastings and Eastbourne hospitals

The major projects include work to install new clinical and waiting areas at the Conquest radiology department, relocating and redesigning the hospital’s fracture clinic, creating a dedicated children’s area in the emergency department and refurbishing and expanding the main entrances at both hospitals.

The East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust is currently applying for Capital Funds from the NHS Improvement Fund to upgrade existing emergency departments on both sites to “meet future standards for the delivery of emergency care”.

In addition, a large number of smaller projects are planned across both acute sites, including refurbishment of wards on a rolling programme, enabling works for major projects plus additional works in support of service delivery and improvements to the environment for patients.

Chris Hodgson, director of estates and facilities at the Trust, said: “We are totally committed to making sure our patients and staff can enjoy being cared for in, and work in, the best possible facilities, which is why we are making this large investment in capital schemes over the next five years. “We are excited by this investment to our hospitals which will enhance both our patient’s experience and the working environment for staff.

“It marks a new era for Conquest and Eastbourne District General Hospitals, one which will see us transform our buildings and facilities over the next few years in line with our Estates Strategy for 2016-2021.

“Both hospitals will benefit from significant refurbishment over the next five years.”

Here is a full list of the major projects planned for the next five years:

Radiology, Conquest Hospital

Start: Summer 2016

Completion: Early 2017

Cost: £350,000

Improving privacy and dignity for patients. Creating a designated waiting area with an expanded reception area to enhance privacy when booking in. The ultrasound suite is being reconfigured. The Trust is also providing new disabled toilets and baby change facilities. Sub-waiting and changing areas are being created to promote privacy and dignity and a new recovery area is being developed.

Radiology, Eastbourne District General Hospital

Start: Summer 2016

Completion: Spring 2017

Cost: £850,000

Two new CT Scanners. Work has already been completed on a new dental room and a sub-waiting area for the ultrasound suite. During August 2016 the Trust is refurbishing the interventional radiology facilities to improve privacy and dignity. During September 2016, it will be building a new shared reception for nuclear medicine and ultrasound, plus a new nurse base and waiting area for main x-ray.

Urology, Eastbourne District General Hospital

Start: Winter 2016

Completion: Spring 2017

Cost: £725,000

The Trust is undertaking a major refurbishment of this area to create five clinic rooms, three procedure rooms and two consulting rooms. Patient pathways will be streamlined to improve privacy and dignity and confidentiality whilst undergoing investigations and treatments. The waiting room and reception area will be realigned and notes storage will be secured. Equipment pathways will be improved to enhance infection prevention and control, ensuring a reduction in the potential for cross contamination. Staff and administration areas will be realigned to improve the working environment and promote collaborative working.

Emergency Department, Development of a dedicated children’s area, Conquest Hospital

Start: Autumn 2016

Completion: Winter 2016

Cost: £75,000

The Trust is refurbishing the emergency department waiting room to provide designated assessment rooms including dedicated children assessment area, along with a separate children’s waiting room. It will be increasing the number of cubicles dedicated for children to help minimise their interaction with adult patients in the emergency department. This is an interim development until a major reconstruction of the emergency department in 2017/18.

Fracture Clinic, Conquest Hospital

Start: Autumn 2016

Completion: Summer 2017

Cost: £1,425,000

The Trust will be redesigning and relocating the fracture clinic. In autumn 2016, this project starts with the movement of administration areas to create clinical space. It will then be creating a discreet and secure clinical area with a new reception and waiting area. There will be 10 consulting rooms with two waiting areas, a plaster room with 3 treatment bays and a separate treatment room. This development also supports a major reconstruction of the emergency department in 2017/18.

Main Entrance, Conquest Hospital

Start on site: Autumn 2016

Completion: Spring 2017

Cost: £600,000

The Trust is refurbishing and expanding the main entrance to enhance the environment and ambiance. Reception, information and waiting areas will be modernised and facilities for refreshments will be upgraded. An upgraded area for patients who are booking into their appointment. An extended and refurbished café will be funded by the retail provider.

Main Entrance, Eastbourne District General Hospital

Start on site: Autumn 2017

Completion: Spring 2018

Cost: £600,000

The Trust is refurbishing and extending the main entrance to enhance the environment and ambiance. Reception, information and waiting areas will be modernised and facilities for refreshments will be upgraded. An upgraded area for patients who are booking to book into their appointment. An extended and refurbished café will be funded by the retail provider.

Capital Funding bids to upgrade the emergency department:

The NHS Trust is currently applying for Capital Funds from the NHS Improvement for funding relating directly to the ‘Urgent and Emergency Care Review’ (2016) which supports schemes that:

• Upgrade existing A&E facilities to meet future standards,

• Invest in acute estate to implement changes from new models of care.

• Support development of mental health Urgent and Emergency Care facilities.

• Support delivery of transformational change to Urgent and Emergency Care in England, so that high quality, responsive and accessible services are provided in a sustainable way.