A huge amount of preparation has gone into the building work at the hospital which will mean new heating and water systems, phone and IT systems, a new kitchen, patio area, and improvements to the outpatients department, the day room, dining area and reception and waiting rooms.This month contractors moved on to the site to begin building work. But over the summer the work will become more intensive around August. The Outpatients Department will be largely unaffected but when work does have an impact some services will be moved to other sites nearby for a short period.
Inger Hebden is Director of Capital Planning and Estates for SHIP Primary Care Trust Cluster (Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth) said: “We’re working to update and improve all of the facilities and services at Fordingbridge. Obviously we’re investing more than a million pounds into this work and by its nature it will mean some inconvenience for people using the Hospital. We’ve worked really hard with the builders to try to overcome those difficulties, and there has been some very careful planning.”
Tracey Aldin from Southern Health manages the Ford Ward at the Hospital: “It’s really exciting and at the same time a bit daunting when you consider the work that’s being done. We will have to close the ward for a short time while that goes on, but we have put in excellent plans to care for people while that happens. We always put the patient first and we will continue to do that during this period of change, but looking at the great new facilities we’ll have the inconvenience is well worth it.”
The work has begun on site after the heavy rain and part of the Ford Ward has already been temporarily closed. After an intensive period of building activity things should start to get back to normal during September before the finish of the main work by the start of October.
The aim is to complete everything on site by 15 October. The timescales of the works are:
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Now until August 4 – Preparatory works on site
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July 30 - Ford ward will be fully closed to allow works to take place internally
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September 15 for two weeks – Ford Ward reopens with half the beds – 10 beds
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September 29 – Ford Ward reopens fully
During this time staff from Fordingbridge Hospital will be looking after patients in Bournemouth and Salisbury Hospitals and other community hospitals in the area depending on the patient’s needs.
There is a special website section for people to chart the progress of the work at Fordingbridge and if people have any questions they can email: yourviewscount@hampshire.nhs.uk
