Changes At St Mary's Hospital As Major Multi-Million Pound Improvements Prepare To Start

A multi-million pound programme to improve services at Isle of Wight NHS Trust is about to begin – and patients and visitors are being advised of changes that will be in place during the work.

From Monday (31), work starts on the Investing in Our Future programme that will see extensive refurbishment and expansion of the emergency services floor and Intensive Care Unit, as well as the reconfiguration of acute wards. A new mental health and community hub will also be created in Newport High Street.

While efforts are being made to minimise any disruption, the scale of the programme – the biggest investment in the hospital in a generation – means some impact on visitors is inevitable, including temporary changes to parking and access to the main entrance as well as new arrangements for blood tests (phlebotomy) and some ultrasound patients.

Isle of Wight NHS Trust Acting Chief Executive, Dr Nikki Turner, said:

“The £30.4m investment at St Mary’s Hospital and in our mental health community services will improve patient care and health outcomes. The new facilities will help to reduce waiting times and bed occupancy and transform community and mental health services on the Island.

“It is fantastic news for the community, but delivering these improvements while maintaining our services will mean there will be some temporary changes to the way we operate.

“We have however planned these changes carefully to minimise impact on staff and patients and we hope the community agrees that any short-term inconvenience will be offset by the many benefits this project will bring.”

The main changes are as follows:

Main Entrance

From mid-November there will be hoardings at the main entrance so that the emergency department (ED) improvement work can be undertaken safely. The main entrance and ED entrance will still be accessible, but via a new temporary pedestrian crossing.

Signage will direct people from the car park and surrounding area and volunteers will be on hand to direct and support people if needed in the first few weeks.

The drop-off area, disabled spaces and the taxi drop-off point currently outside the front entrance will all move to the front section of the main car park nearest the hospital. Disabled spaces currently outside the emergency department will also be moved to the main car park.

Families or carers dropping off patients are asked to vacate the drop off spaces promptly to enable access for other patients and to liaise with the patient or the department to arrange a time to collect them.

Phlebotomy (blood testing services)

From Monday, to enable reconfiguration works to start on our acute wards and improve the Intensive Care Unit, the Phlebotomy department – currently located on level B - will move to a temporary location in the North Hospital.

Anyone using these services should park in the North Car Park and use the North Hospital entrance where signage will guide them to the department.

The temporary relocation will mean that the blood testing department will have reduced waiting room and blood testing capacity. Routine and non urgent blood tests should continue to be carried out by the patient's GP surgery wherever possible. More information about where to get your blood test can be found.

Ultrasound Services

Some ultrasound appointments will be carried out in a new dedicated area within the North Hospital site. Anyone referred for an ultrasound should check their appointment letter to see whether they should attend the existing site on level A or the new location in North Hospital. Those attending the North Hospital should use the North car park and use North Hospital entrance and follow signage.

Other Hospital Services

In mid-November two-way traffic lights will be in place along the road used for access to the Renal, Stoma, Ear Nose and Throat, Audiology, the Education Centre and mortuary services. Anyone using this route should allow slightly more time to get to their appointment.

Intensive Care Unit

The Intensive Care Unit will move temporarily to the Coronary Care Unit, as it did during the pandemic. The move will be signposted, but patients and families will be kept informed directly by the department as required.