The newly refurbished Orthopaedic Unit at Orsett Hospital was treated to two official openings after a toddler wanted to follow in the Mayor and MP’s footsteps and cut the ribbon too.
Two-year-old Bailey Marsh, from Laindon, was in the waiting area of the new £340,000 Unit with his mum Kelly, when he saw Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock and Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Anne Cheale, cutting the ribbon to mark the official opening of the unit. He thought it looked like fun and wanted to get involved.
Work on the refurbished unit was complete earlier this year, modernising the dated department for the 5,000 plus orthopaedic patients who attend clinics here every year. The Unit provides dedicated orthopaedic clinics for the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint and muscle, tendon and ligament problems.
The Unit has been designed in a horseshoe shape to improve patient flow. Patients are welcomed into the open plan reception area, which incorporates a low-level disabled access to the receptionist’s desk. Patients are then shown to one of the eight purpose-built consulting rooms which are self sufficient and accommodate all needs.
Robert Carew, Orthopaedic Consultant and Clinical Director of Trauma and Orthopaedics, said: “The design of the new unit has drawn many positive comments from patients, who are impressed at the improvements in dignity, as some of the consulting areas were previously cordoned off by curtains. Staff are also pleased to be working in nicer surroundings with a separate staffroom – instead of crowding into the senior sister’s office to have a cup of coffee on their break.”
Barbara Montgomery, from Pitsea, attended clinics before the refurbishment. She said: “It used to be very cramped but now it’s absolutely lovely. There used to be only curtains separating the cubicles, so you could hear the conversation between doctor and patient that was happening next to you. It’s much better now as there is total privacy in the separate rooms.”
