Health / Health board aware of storage limitations at hospital
INCREASED storage space for equipment will be factored into any new hospital in Shetland, according to the health board.
It comes after councillor Robbie McGregor said Lerwick’s Gilbert Bain Hospital was “well past its sell by date” following a seven-week stay there.
The 77-year-old said there appeared to be a lack of storage space for medical equipment, which sometimes made it difficult to be wheeled around corridors.
However the Shetland South member – who is on the mend back home after suffering a stroke – was full of praise for staff and his quality of care.
It comes as NHS Shetland considers a replacement for the ageing Gilbert Bain, although the process is in its very early stages.
In response, NHS Shetland’s head of estates, facilities and medical physics Lawson Bisset said increased storage will be factored into plans for any new hospital.
“We are always grateful to receive praise for our staff because they are a credit to the board and we know how hard they work to maintain the high standards we have at the Gilbert Bain Hospital,” he said.
“However, we are aware of the current size limitations due to the age of the building as the original designs did not allow for the extent of medical equipment and associated storage that is currently available for patients today.
“This situation has been further compounded by the implications of Covid and the need for increased clinical space.
“As we plan for the future, an increased storage allocation will be one of the accommodation briefing requirements within any new development.”
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