New day of surgery admissions suite opens at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (From Bournemouth Echo)

New day of surgery admissions suite opens at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital

5:07pm Monday 25th January 2010 in

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PATIENTS admitted for an operation at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital are benefiting from a brand new unit, which officially opened in mid January.

The Sandbourne Admissions Suite is a purpose built unit designed for the admission of patients on the day of their surgery, thus reducing the need for them to come into hospital the night before their operation. The unit, costing over £1 million, took eight months to complete.

The Sandbourne Admissions Suite, located opposite the Main Theatre complex, has been designed to provide a calm and welcoming environment for patients to prepare for surgery. After their operation patients will be cared for on a surgical ward.

Admission on the day of operation improves the patient experience by avoiding unnecessary time spent in hospital. Consequently, patients will spend more time in their home where they feel most comfortable. It also reduces patients’ overall length of stay in hospital.

The Sandbourne Admissions Suite has nine individual consultation / examination rooms where surgeons and anaesthetists are able to chat to the patient before their operation in complete privacy.

Patients will remain dressed in their own clothes until just before being taken to theatre, maintaining their dignity and individuality.

There are two single-sex waiting lounges within the Suite which will preserve patient dignity once they have changed into a hospital gown. Patients who are able, will walk to theatre escorted by a nurse, thus ensuring a safe and timely transfer from the admission suite to the operating theatre.

Facilities are also provided within the Suite for patients who are unable to walk to theatre. There is also a quiet room where, if required, relatives will be able to sit with the patients before their operation, helping to support and reassure them before surgery.

Mr David Bennett, Consultant Surgeon and Clinical Lead for the Sandbourne Admissions Suite, commented: “We are delighted with the brand new Sandbourne Admissions Suite. The design of the unit will ensure a better patient experience enabling consultations with patients to be held in absolute privacy.

“The unit has been carefully designed around the patients’ journey from admission to discharge and will enable more patients to stay at home the night before their operation. The design of the Suite ensures patients wait in a relaxed environment with their privacy and dignity preserved.”