Multi-million pound revamp for hospital children's unit? (From Thurrock Gazette)

Multi-million pound revamp for hospital children's unit?

3:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in News

A MULTI-million pound revamp of Basildon Hospital’s children’s and maternity unit could be carried out as part of improvements to care.

The proposal has been drawn up by hospital bosses in a report, to be heard today, following an investigation into paediatric services, following a number of serious incidents in recent months, including the death of a ten-year-old girl in October 2012 when she was not given correct medication.

The review was ordered by hospital chief executive Clare Panniker and it describes the existing unit as “cramped and cluttered” and says there is a “sense of disorganisation, with concerns regarding infection risks due to the layout”.

The report lists five options, but the two most likely will either see a refurbishment of level A only, costing £8.1million, or a £22.5million plan, which would see levels A to D refurbished.

The three other options, including a £53.2million re-build of the department, have been ruled out due to the cost implications.

The options will be discussed by the hospital’s board of directors today.

Other recommendations include nursing staff undertaking annual drug competency testing and a review of the medicine management arrangements to ensure the drugs used in paediatric areas are the same.

The hospital has been in the headlines recently due to its stretched A&E department and its high mortality rate, which is also under investigation.

Following the publication of the Francis Report into 1,200 deaths at Staffordshire Hospital, the Government announced a review into the quality of care and treatment provided by 14 other hospital trusts in England, including Basildon. It is not known when the findings will be published.

A hospital spokeswoman declined to comment ahead of the meeting as the decision about the paediatric department was yet made.