BAM and Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust have confirmed the completion of the new Trelawny Scanning Suite and Haematology and Oncology Ward in Truro
The new facility at the Trelawny Scanning Suite, which was completed on time and within budget, includes two MRI scanners, a 24-bed ward, and an ambulatory emergency care day unit. It will provide patients with cancer access to the latest diagnostic and treatment services in a modern environment.
The Royal Cornwall Hospital was opened in Treliske by Princess Alexandra on July 12, 1968. Services were later relocated from the Royal Cornwall Infirmary to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in the mid-1990s. The Trelawny Wing was completed in 1998 at a cost of £27m.
The extension to the Trelawny Wing took over 250,000 work hours by 1,500 employees. In line with BAM’s dedication to promoting sustainability and aiding local communities, over 80% of the construction workforce responsible for the project came from Devon and Cornwall.
A host of cutting-edge equipment has been added to the wing
The Trelawny Scanning Suite features two state-of-the-art MRI scanners, four ultrasound rooms, in-bed waiting areas, an observation area, and a spacious anaesthetic room.
The reception and waiting area of the Trelawny Scanning Suite features a floor-to-ceiling mural and a dedicated area designed specifically for children. The new reception area blends in with the adjacent CT scanning department, tying all the imaging services in the wing together.
The Lowen haematology and oncology ward at RCHT has expanded, now accommodating 24 beds, an increase of six beds from before, with 12 of these being side rooms and eight featuring individual ventilation. This is a crucial feature for patients with compromised immune systems.
The Lowen unit features a private courtyard garden for end-of-life care. There is also a dedicated molecular radiotherapy suite for cancer patients needing specialised, isolated treatment.
Treatment at the Trelawny Scanning Suite will be more efficient
The unit also includes a day assessment area that allows patients to use the 24-hour oncology care hotline to bypass the emergency department. This will lead to earlier discharges and enable ongoing ambulatory care.
“We are very proud to have delivered this important suite expansion for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and for the people of Cornwall. The success of this scheme can be put down to the passion of our whole team, and the outstanding cooperation between all parties working on the project,” said Graham Kingdon, construction director for BAM.
“As the NHS celebrates its 75th birthday, we are delighted to have opened this new unit at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. It was first conceived more than ten years ago as an essential need, and a key element of our longer-term reconfiguration of the hospital site, which will continue with the upcoming Women and Children’s Hospital Programme,” added Steve Williamson, CEO at RCHT.
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