Memorandum by Sasha Karakusevic, Torbay
Hospital (CAB 35)
IMPACT OF CABE ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF TORBAY
HOSPITAL
1. South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust put
forward a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for redevelopment of Torbay
and Newton Abbot hospitals that was accepted by the Department
of Health (DoH) in February 2001. The objective of the SOC was
to enable the development of new clinical services and improved
accommodation to meet the needs of the local community.
2. Torbay hospital has occupied its present
site since 1928. A "new" hospital was added in 1968
and since then there has been a steady stream of new building
and renovation. Although individual elements of the hospital work
well, together the site has become complex and is confusing for
patients and visitors. It is also increasingly difficult to maintain.
The SOC contained proposals for a mixture of new build and further
renovation with a view of extending the life of the core elements
of the hospital.
3. Newton Abbot hospital is based on an
old workhouse situated on a steep slope close to the town centre.
The buildings are no longer fit for purpose. A decision was therefore
made to look for a new site for the hospital and the SOC was based
on this.
4. Although the project will result in new
buildings it was conceived as an organisational change project.
As such the buildings are an extremely powerful catalyst for service
improvement. However, it is equally important that the new buildings
are well designed and function well.
5. Having visited a number of hospitals
both in the UK and abroad I became aware of the importance of
good design and was keen to promote this aspect of the project.
This interest was shared by the Trust Chairman and Chief Executive
and other key opinion formers within the Trust.
6. Shortly after completion of the SOC the
Trust joined the Future Hospital Network (FHN), which is a group
of hospitals involved in major service redesign and is hosted
by the NHS Confederation. Through this link the Trust became aware
of a joint project between NHS Estates and CABE to provide enabling
support for five projects. We applied and were selected to be
involved.
7. CABE has provided access to two enablers
to support the development of the project. The initial support
helped the Project Team to consider the strategic positioning
of the business case. The second phase of enabling supported the
development of the Development Control Plan for the hospital.
8 As the project has developed to Outline
Business Case stage the scope has changed. As a result of work
within the project and the support offered by CABE a more ambitious
project has emerged. This will provide a new hospital in Newton
Abbot and a substantially new hospital in Torbay.
COMMENTARY
9. Within the hospital we have a very clear
vision of what the hospital of the future needs to be and how
it should work. Working with CABE we have developed a much better
understanding of how the hospital will fit within the local environment
and how to maximise the positive benefits of the new build whilst
minimising the negative impact on our immediate neighbours.
10. CABE's input has certainly improved
the Trust's understanding of its role as a client. This preparation
is highly likely to lead to an improved result.
Anticipated benefits include:
— the need for less revision to the
building once operational;
— long-term sustainability of the site;
— improved working environment for
staff and patients leading to an improved quality of care; and
— better fit with the local community
leading to a better quality environment.
11. In addition to these issues the fact
that the Trust is working with CABE provides assurance to stakeholders
that design issues are being taken seriously and this has increased
confidence and bidder interest in the project.
12. I am confident on the basis of my experience
that the enabling programme does achieve its objective of substantially
improving the projects it works with.
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