Another significant milestone has been reached in the redevelopment project at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), announced Health and Wellness Minster Carolyn Bertram, and Rick Adams, Executive Director of the QEH, during a tour of the facility’s new Laundry Services and Supply, Processing and Distribution (SPD) departments.
“Our Government recognizes health care as a number one priority and we are committed to ensuring the delivery of quality health care to all Islanders. Support services, such as Laundry and SPD, are important elements to that delivery process,” said Minister Bertram. “During a recent tour of the hospital, I was pleased to have met staff and witness first hand how their new work environments will improve the quality of their work life, as well as staff and patient safety.”
Stage one of the first phase of redevelopment includes the construction of a new Emergency Department, as well as major renovations and relocation of the Laundry Services, SPD and Materials Management departments. Laundry Services and SPD are located directly beneath the new Emergency Department. The Emergency Department is scheduled to be operational in late spring of 2010.
“This is an exciting time for staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as we continue to make positive changes to our facility,” said Rick Adams, Executive Director of the QEH. “The new department areas will provide staff with the additional workspace they require and new equipment will assist them in the provision of quality health care service in a more efficient way.”
The former Laundry Services department was approximately 6,134 square feet and the new department space is 7,262 square feet. In addition to an expanded workspace, the department also features new state-of-the-art laundry, ironing and folding equipment. The department provides laundry services to Hillsborough Hospital, Addictions Services and long-term care facilities located in Queen’s County and processes just over 3 millions pounds of laundry annually.
The hospital’s SPD department distributes materials/supplies throughout the hospital and processes items requiring sterilization. The former space was approximately 6,700 square feet, the department’s new space has been increased to 10,812 square feet.
“Taking occupancy of their new and enhanced departments is not only an important step for staff, but this also marks a significant step forward as we near completion of the first stage of the redevelopment project at the QEH,” said Minister Bertram.
This is the first major renovation to the province’s largest acute care facility and main referral hospital since it was built in the late seventies. The need for change was identified by hospital staff, physicians and government through an ongoing effort to improve the delivery of health care services to Islanders.