The Elmbury Suite, Tewkesbury Hospital

On Tuesday January 30th 2001 The Elmbury Suite at Tewkesbury Hospital was opened by Eileen Sinnott, Chairman of the League of Friends. The Suite comprises a 5-bedded dedicated day unit with patient sitting area, toilet and office. Along with these alterations came a new treatment room, ladies day room and upgrading of the ward’s emergency nurse call system. The Theatre suite also had some upgrading to its staff facilities- these included an office, coffee room and male/female changing room with unisex shower. This has improved the quality of environment for staff and has a consequence, improved morale.

Prior to this patients were given any available bed on Severn Ward, the GP/Surgical ward. This meant that they were potentially next to very poorly inpatients which was obviously inappropriate given that the surgical cases would generally be fit, healthy people who required a relatively minor procedure. The feedback so far from patients has been very positive as the atmosphere is much more relaxed and environment more uplifting so making ward and theatre staff feel that the theatre lists run more smoothly as all the patients are in the same place and have dedicated nursing staff to look after them.

The Unit and improvements was funded almost exclusively by Tewkesbury Hospital League of Friends with some monies towards equipment funded by East Gloucestershire NHS Trust.

Currently the Unit provides care with patients undergoing General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Gynaecology and Urology operations. We do not have theatre lists every day but have a programme that runs over a four-week period. It is our hope that with the improvement in facilities and the advent of new Consultants to the Trust more theatre lists will be undertaken as we feel able to provide an excellent service that our patients not only demand, but have a right to expect.

Tricia Murphy
Sister

Challenge Issue 32 - Spring 2001