New bedside lockers set to improve patient experience at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

They're being installed now at New Selby War Memorial Hospital and will be coming to York Hospital soon

Author: Edward BreslinPublished 4th Oct 2020

Brand new specially designed bedside lockers are being introduced at hospitals and sites right across the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, starting with New Selby War Memorial Hospital this week, thanks to funding from York Teaching Hospital Charity.

The three year project to design bedside lockers that would be accessible, practical and easier for patients to use has involved input from across the organisation including infection prevention, pharmacy, estates and wards.

York Teaching Hospital Charity has donated £180,792, almost two thirds of the cost of the project, which they say will bring long lasting benefits to patients for years to come.

Jennie Booth, Lead Nurse Medicines Management and Vicky Angell, Quality and Professional Practice Sister have been key to getting the project off the ground.

Jennie explained:

“We have looked at every aspect of how we can make the lockers more practical and easy to use for patients as well as taking into consideration patient feedback.

“The lockers are now much more secure for personal belongings, which mean they are also suitable for patients to keep their own medication with them. The design has incorporated a high depth medicine drawer built to house the tallest medicine bottle standing up, preventing leakages and mess.”

The eight month rollout to replace all 1,144 bedside lockers has begun with the first ones being installed at New Selby War Memorial Hospital, White Cross Court and St Monica’s Hospital. The next phase will include St Helen’s and York Hospital.

Vicky added:

“The comment that constantly comes through in patient feedback is the issue of noise on the ward, particularly at night. To help with this the lockers have been designed with soft close doors and drawers. In addition, the colour has been chosen to be dementia and sight impairment friendly, so we feel we are really investing in equipment that is suitable now and in the future.”

Rachel Brook, Fundraising Manager, said:

“As usual we have our generous donors to thank for raising funds for projects like the new bedside lockers. This is typical example where we can fund the extras to improve facilities above and beyond the NHS for the benefit of patients.”