Millions invested to improve conditions for patients
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, the organisation
which runs five London hospitals including Hammersmith Hospital, has announced it is launching a £9million programme of works to get rid of mixed-sex accommodation on inpatient wards.
Refurbishment plans for the hospital include new single-sex bays as well as new bathrooms and toilets.
Professor Janice Sigsworth, the Trust's Director of Nursing, said: "Maintaining patients' privacy and dignity in hospital is an important priority for the Trust and we hope that the changes we are making to the wards will have a big impact on how patients feel about their time with us."
The Trust says this work is part of a wider scheme to improve patients’ experience of being in hospital, and will include the introduction of "mystery shoppers" who will sample the type of service they receive in hospital.
Electronic patient trackers have also been installed around the hospital where patients can respond to five questions about their care while they are still in hospital to give staff real time responses.
Professor Sigsworth said: "We want to make sure our patients have the best possible experience from their admission to hospital through to their discharge and feel involved in decisions about their care."
The single-sex accommodation investment programme is due to be completed in March 2010.
May 27, 2009