Hospital Charity Launches Appeal to Support Scarborough's New Urgent and Emergency Care Centre

A £400,000 appeal has been launched to help add some extra facilities to Scarborough Hospital's new Urgent and Emergency Care centre.

The £47m investment in the town’s emergency care facilities will see a new centre with an integrated critical care floor for intensive care and coronary care that almost doubles the current space. The centre promises a significant upgrade in the delivery of urgent and emergency services on the East Coast.

York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity has launched an appeal to raise £400,000 to support the new centre to enhance patient care and experience and support staff wellbeing in the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at Scarborough Hospital.

The appeal will help provide the extras over and above the funding allocated to the scheme. Plans include a specialist mental health crisis room, gardens, artwork and wayfinding as well as two ensuite relatives’ rooms within the new critical care department.

Maya Liversedge is the charity's community fundraiser, she hopes everyone will get involved in the appeal.

One of the appeal’s aims is to raise funds for the ensuite relatives rooms within the new critical care department which will allow relatives to stay close to their family member and be reached quickly if the patient’s condition changes.

Rachael Ventress spent five weeks in Scarborough Hospital last year after lifesaving surgery. She is delighted to see the plans for the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre include a relative's suite and gardens.

Rachael said:

“From my perspective, having mum nearby would have made all the difference and for the charity to be able to fund the relatives’ room next door to the new ICU is just what families need.

“Having an outdoor space where my bed could be wheeled out would have been amazing. Not only would I have been able to see my family, but I could have felt fresh air on my skin. The appeal has my full support – it will improve the experience for patients in so many ways.”

Jo Southwell is project lead for the development - she thinks being able to deliver the "added extra's" would make the new facility something really special.

The fundraising appeal has set itself a number of goals including

Fitting out specialist rooms

• A mental health crisis room will give privacy to patients in crisis and provide a safe environment for staff if a patient becomes aggressive.
• A multifunctional room will allow dignity, confidentiality and privacy for people with seen and unseen disabilities, children and people with mental health concerns.

Supporting relatives

• Two ensuite relatives’ rooms within critical care will allow relatives to stay close to their family member and be reached quickly if the patient’s condition changes.
• A private room will offer families access to a dignified and calm space to say goodbye if they have lost a loved one.

Improving the hospital environment

• Artwork will be installed within the fabric of the building. A nature theme will run throughout with colour choices to help reduce aggressive behaviour and help with anxiety.
• A ground floor patient garden, suitable for dementia patients, will allow people to get some fresh air while in the hospital.
• A first floor terrace will provide an outdoor space for use by the sickest patients in the hospital and their relatives.

Enhancing staff wellbeing

• During the coronavirus pandemic we learned that staff benefit from outside space to take breaks or to compose themselves after a difficult time. We will be funding two gardens especially for staff which will allow them to do this. The gardens will be accessible from the staff rooms so doors can be opened to allow fresh air and natural light in even in poorer weather.

Rachel Brook, Charity Manager, said:

“We are really excited to launch the Urgent and Emergency Care Appeal on behalf of Scarborough Hospital and we hope the local community will support us in making it the best it can possibly be. It really is fantastic news for the people on the East Coast. What’s more, anyone who needs emergency or urgent care or visits the hospital will be able to see first hand where the appeal money has been spent.”

Anyone holding their own fundraising event will be supported by York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity with advice, encouragement and practically with marketing and promotional materials.

More information and appeal updates are available at www.ScarboroughUECAppeal.co.uk