£23m cash injection will help to modernise hospitals

Managers say significant improvements will be delivered with the modernisation of facilities at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital, Worksop, and Montagu Hospital in Mexborough.

Major projects in the pipeline include a new endoscopy suite at Bassetlaw Hospital and improvements to clinic areas and waiting rooms for eye and diabetes outpatients at Doncaster’s infirmary.

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is also investing in new IT systems which will ultimately link up to provide fully electronic patient records. The initiative is designed to improve the safety and quality of care by making case notes instantly accessible to clinicians and significantly reducing the amount of time spent on paperwork.

The programme also includes the completion of work on a new day surgery unit at the infirmary in Doncaster, an assessment and treatment centre at Bassetlaw and a new rehabilitation centre and refurbishment of wards at Montagu Hospital. It also covers the completion of work to create more beds at all three hospitals.

The programme is being funded from sources including the £3.5m surplus made by the trust in 2012-13, charitable funds and the Department of Health.

David Pratt, the trust’s director of finance, information and procurement, said: “We are totally committed to making sure our patients and staff can enjoy being cared for in, and working in, the best possible facilities, which is why we are making our largest ever investment in capital schemes this year.

“We can afford to do this now because of our good track record of managing our finances responsibly. That means we can invest last year’s surplus in creating better buildings and improving facilities for our patients, as well as new equipment and technology.

“It marks a new era for Doncaster and Bassetlaw hospitals – one which will see us transform our buildings and facilities over the next few years in line with our strategy for 2013-17.”

Officials say patients in the area will benefit from earlier access to latest treatments as the trust increases the amount of clinical research it carries out.

Staff will be able to take part in research which could deliver significant benefits to patients, with the creation of new academic and research posts.

Chief executive Mike Pinkerton said: “It’s impossible to overstate the value of a healthy and active research culture. It means that clinicians and other staff are at the forefront of their fields when it comes to knowledge and expertise.

“It also enables patients to benefit from new treatments and techniques.”