Refurbishment project for children's ward

24 July 2015

Work is set to start on a major refurbishment of the children’s ward at Jersey General Hospital.

A project to improve the facilities on Robin Ward will commence on Monday 27 July; the new Robin Ward, set to open by the end of 2015, will provide an enhanced facility for children and young people requiring admission to hospital for planned treatment, or following an emergency referral from a GP, other health professional or the Emergency Department.

The work will include a provision for those children and young people who are facing mental health challenges which require hospital care.

Some children and young people will no longer go to Robin Ward, with a new Continuing Care Clinic to be set up within the paediatric area of the Hospital’s Outpatients Department. This clinic will cater for those requiring a range of assessments, investigations or short-term reviews of treatment, which can take place away from the busy ward environment.

During the refurbishment project, scheduled to last 18 weeks, Robin Ward will be relocated to the seventh floor of the Hospital, adjacent to Rozel Ward. Patients and their parents have been advised, and directions will be posted from both the Parade and Gwyneth Huelin entrances to the Hospital.

“This work will provide significantly enhanced facilities for children and young people and we are pleased to be getting it underway,” said Sally Gebhardt, Acting Senior Nurse (paediatrics). “There will be some changes during the project, but we will be seeking to minimise any impact on business as usual and look forward to returning to our original location before Christmas.”

Top priorities

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Senator Andrew Green, said that the Robin Ward project was among his Department’s top priorities.

“It’s very important that we provide a bespoke facility that meets the needs of young Islanders who face mental health challenges,” he said. “At the same time the enhanced environment and facilities will benefit all those who come to Robin Ward, while the Continuing Care Clinic is best able to provide care for those with outpatient needs.”