Improving the patient environment

Patients in Antrim Area Hospital will soon benefit from modern and improved bathroom facilities as the Northern Trust has this month commenced a refurbishment programme in the Medical and Surgical Wards.

The current bathroom design includes a toilet, wash-hand basin and a low-entry bath which often required patients to be hoisted. The new wet room design provides many benefits for patients and staff, helping to create a pleasant and therapeutic environment for healing. Dignity and independence can be more readily maintained, thereby improving patient experience as there is less dependence on hoists to bathe patients. This also helps to reduce the number of incidents of staff injuries.

The work has now started. It is expected the renovations will take two to three weeks for each wet room with all work completed by the end of March 2014. During this time dustproof partitions will be erected in wards and any noise generating work, if required, will be carried out at weekends.

“We are delighted to be improving the patient experience during their stay in hospital. The Trust would like to apologise for any inconvenience which may be caused during this period of refurbishment ” commented Carolyn Kerr, Deputy Director of Nursing.

21st October 2013