Edition 6 |
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1999 |
In late 1994 Ayrshire and Arran Health Board set up an option appraisal exercise to examine the best way of planning and configuring health services in an area defined as East Ayrshire (Cumnock, Mauchline and surrounding areas). It was concluded that a single site Community Hospital would best meet the needs of the residents of the area and after a tendering exercise Ayrshire and Arran Primary Care Trust was commissioned to procure the hospital. The Trust have entered into an agreement with a consortium led by HBG Construction Scotland Limited for the provision of a 98 bed Community Hospital in Cumnock, Ayrshire. The consortium will design, build and finance the hospital and also provide all non-clinical services.
Building work commenced on 26 April 1999 and construction is expected to take 18 months.
The hospital will include:
A comprehensive range of out-patient specialist services will be available in the out-patient suite and the aim is to provide a one-stop consultant process where patients may visit their consultant, the diagnostic suite and the rehabilitation suite all on the same visit. The hospital will have 98 clinical and 29 non-clinical staff.
The services to be provided by HBG Ltd. comprise accommodation services (construction of facilities), building related services (life cycle maintenance and energy), and facilities management services comprising:
All services will be provided in accordance with hospital policies and will be subject to periodic market testing and benchmarking.
The main beneficiaries will be the people of East Ayrshire who will have a new, accessible, state-of- the-art Community Hospital to assist in meeting their health needs. In-patients will benefit from the emphasis placed on providing a familiar, pleasant and comfortable environment for their care and well-being.
Ayrshire and Arran Primary care NHS trust will benefit by being able to provide improved medical care from a new facility and the staff will benefit from delivering care in a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing workplace.
HBG Ltd. will benefit through the experience gained in delivering, and providing facilities to, a Community Hospital.