Green light for new-look ward at Herne Bay hospital

Jumping for joy: Healthcare assistant Harmeet Kaur, Nurse Sheela Moni, Healthcare Assistant Ashley Caverley and Senior Sister Bamlin Thomas.

Patients and colleagues at the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital (QVMH) in Herne Bay, will benefit from an extensive refurbishment of the inpatient ward this year, thanks to a generous bequest from the late Mermikides family, plus additional investment from NHS England.

The 19-bedded Heron Ward is getting a £900,000 makeover, which will include a new reception area and nurses’ station, while patients will benefit from improved décor, including new flooring and LED lighting to make the ward more dementia-friendly.

Ward Matron, Alison Read, said: “We are excited to be able to give Heron Ward a new lease of life, improving facilities for patients and colleagues. We have looked really carefully at how we can make the space work better for our patients by making it easier to navigate the facilities and helping them to have a more relaxing and comfortable time during their stay.”

Senior Sister Bamlin Thomas said: “The patient rooms will be refreshed and some of the single rooms will have french doors that open onto the garden, which we hope will help people to enjoy the outdoor area more, especially our end-of-life patients.”

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) now owns the hospital building thanks to a Department of Health initiative which invited local NHS providers to take over ownership of sites from NHS Property Services. Work on the ward is expected to start in May and it is hoped the ward will be open again in September. While it takes place, inpatients needing rehabilitation will be looked after by the same healthcare team at Westbrook House in Margate. All outpatient services are unaffected and people should come to their appointments at QVMH as normal.