First patients welcomed to modern ICU at Bath's RUH
The new unit provides care for some of the sickest patients at the hospital
The first patients have been welcomed into a new modern 16-bed intensive care unit at Bath's Royal United Hospital.
The new unit provides care for some of the sickest patients at the RUH, including those recovering from major surgery, heart attacks and strokes or life-threatening infections such as sepsis.
'Our new ICU will support us to deliver the very highest standards of care'
Margi Jenkins RUH Matron for Intensive Care and Critical Care Outreach said: “We’re delighted our new ICU will support us to deliver the very highest standards of care for our community, at what is often a very difficult time for the people we care for and their loved ones.
“Our team has fed into the design process at every step of the way, to create the best environment for everyone using or working in our new unit. From more natural light and better ventilation through to the very latest equipment and better facilities for visitors, we are very proud of what the team has achieved.”
The new unit includes ceiling mounted pendants to house equipment used to care for patients.
The majority of the pendants were funded by RUHX, the RUH’s official charity and Friends of the RUH, an independent charity which also raises funds to provide facilities, support services and equipment for the RUH.
Rhyannon Boyd, RUHX Associate Director said: “This is a proud collaboration between RUHX and the Friends of the RUH to enable the purchase of this new world-class ICU equipment at a cost of almost £225,000.
“Each of the beds in the unit has a new ICU pendant, which will help provide extraordinary intensive care treatment in the critical hour of need where every second matters. Thank you to all our supporters who helped make it happen."
'A real privilege'
Bernard Rymer, Chairman and Deputy Treasurer of Friends of the RUH said: “It’s been a real privilege to join forces with RUHX to ensure our new ICU includes this equipment.
“The money we raise from the shop and café we run at the RUH allows us to target areas that will provide the most benefit to patients and the hospital – whether that’s wall clocks for patients with dementia, providing emergency toiletry packs for patients or funding significant pieces of equipment such as the ICU pendants.”
They were joined by Bath Rugby player Tom Dunn at the official unveiling earlier this week.
His wife Jen also worked as pharmacist in the unit.
Tom said: “Whenever I have been to the RUH in the last few years, whether to visit or to help out, the thing that really strikes me the most is all the different people pulling together in the same direction to do the best for patients – whether porters, pharmacists, nurses or the estates team.
"The unit is an incredible facility with all the latest equipment but it’s the people who really make it and this ICU is an example of the best kind of high-performance environment.”
The new unit also includes:
- Negative and positive pressure rooms
- Improved facilities for loved ones and visitors
- Improved access to information to support families and friends
- Improved access for people with disabilities
- Tailored wall displays
- Separate staff and visitor entrances
- Better staff facilities,
The new ICU is expected to provide care for over 1,000 patients a year.
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