Friday 1st July 2011


Nearly a week after a blaze swept through the hospital, bosses at the Royal have tonight issued an update.

They say that, after experts have now thoroughly examined the areas affected by the fire it is expected to take between 8 and 12 months to repair.

A large section around what was the shop will need to be demolished and work is expected to start on that in the next four weeks.

When complete the area will be sealed from the elements and what's described, as a 'massive programme' will get underway to redesign and rebuild the facilities. A new infrastructure will also be needed featuring new electrics and IT systems.

Short term interim arrangements are already at the planning stages with the hospital's estates team looking to introduce a temporary reception facility within the confines of the less damaged area in the entrance. This will also enable the Booked Admissions service (where patients go to book a date for surgery after their out-patient appointment) and the Advice Centre (concerns, complaints, general information service) to get back up and running front of house as quickly as possible. This will be outlined next week to see if it could be a workable option.

No appointments or operations have been cancelled as a result of the fire - services operated 'normally' all week and will continue to do so.

Early structural reports suggest that the damage in the fracture clinic and A&E reception area will be repairable.

This area will be brought on line as soon as is practical - and a contractor is due to be appointed (by Monday 4th). Fracture clinic and orthopaedic out-patients will remain on Staveley Ward however - as the clinic reception area is likely to be a temporary front of house base for the trust's security team and the patient's accounts service.

Hospital Chief Executive Eric Morton comments: "We've had enormous help this week from a host of experts - engineers, the fire service, loss adjustors, insurance reps and many others. We're not likely to know final costs for a few weeks whilst everything is worked through, but we know it will be months before the main entrance is back up to full speed. Without support from our staff we would not have been able to run services this week. They have done an amazing job in difficult circumstances.

"Patients have been incredibly patient and understanding - and very complimentary about how the hosiptal is coping. The challenge now is to get a more permanent solution in place for some front of house services, with the knowledge that it is going to be a long time before things get back to normal."

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