Affordable housing for hospital staff, a care home, assisted living accommodation and independent living lodges could all be coming to the St Mary’s Hospital site.
It forms part of major £25.5 million estate improvements planned for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust.
It is part of the £48 million awarded to the trust in 2019 to pay for building and IT improvements.
A catalyst for change
The projects proposed for the hospital and in the wider Island community are being called a catalyst for change in an estate strategy which was today (Thursday) approved by the trust’s board.
The strategy will help the trust prioritise investment and reduce the burden of £11 million worth of backlog maintenance and critical infrastructure risks.
Addressing shortfall in housing
As part of the strategy on the 32-acre ‘North site’, there would be a range of residential properties to address the shortfall of key worker housing, both affordable and open market housing.
There could also be a care home, operated by a third party acting as a step-down facility from the hospital, an extra care village incorporating dementia care with an assisted living complex and independent living lodges.
‘Hot’ and ‘Cold’ zones
‘Hot’ and ‘Cold’ zones are being proposed to separate non-elective and elective care pathways at St Mary’s, which will help improve the flow of patients through the hospital and allow staff to deliver high-quality care in the right place at the right time.
Four projects
Four projects have been identified to be completed by March 2024, including:
- A locality hub in Newport Town Centre — the former HMV Store on Newport High Street — as an integrated mental health and community service
- An improved Intensive Care Unit at St Mary’s Hospital
- An improved Emergency Floor at St Mary’s Hospital — co-location of the Emergency Department and Urgent Treatment Centre, the relocation of the Fracture Clinic and the creation of a Same Day Emergency Care Unit.
- Acute bed reconfiguration at St Mary’s Hospital — creation of a new ward in underutilised accommodation
Other options
On the south part of the hospital site, further opportunities will be explored, but potential uses have been identified including a restaurant; hotel with conference and gym facilities; and a new community and mental health inpatient facility.
Improvements to the ambulance station are proposed and will centralise transport services under one roof and improve the turn-around of ambulances.
Potential to bring benefits to the whole Island
Speaking at the trust board meeting, chair Melloney Poole said the strategy has the potential to bring benefits to the whole Island.
Sara Weech, a non-executive director at the trust, called the approval of the strategy a tipping point, where improvements will be delivered and not just talked about.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
