State-of-art facilities on view as Balfour doors open to the public
(From The Orcadian dated December 25, 2000)

The end result of the second phase of Balfour Hospital's multi-million pound redevelopment is the envy of other hospitals throughout the UK.

According to Orkney Health Board chief executive, Mrs Judi Wellden, the new state-of-the-art facilities will help establish Orkney as a centre of excellence for remote and rural health and social care.

"These excellent facilities are just what we need to attract healthcare professionals and other staff to work in Orkney. The Balfour Hospital development is really putting us on the map."

The general public are being invited to view the work so far completed within the hospital tomorrow, Friday.

"Over 300 people came to see the new Macmillan House when it opened in March last year," Mrs Wellden said. "And we are expecting even more to come and look at the £5 million development which is giving us a new operating theatre, X-ray suite and laboratories."

Mrs Wellden went on to say that these are sterile areas, normally out of bounds to the public.

"We are inviting the public in to have a look before the new facilities are deep cleaned and put into active service.

"After then, the only way most people will see them is if they are on a trolley before being anaesthetised and wheeled into the operating theatre."

The press were allowed a sneak preview to the new areas last week. Looking like something you would associate more with television's programme "Casualty", which is set in a modern hospital, long corridors stretch out in front of you.

CCTV watches your every move and futuristic gadgets line the walls and rooms at every turn. For the utmost in sterility, simple hand signals open doors and even turn on taps.

A people carrier (lift to you and me) takes you up to the laboratories - micro biology, a wash-up room and a category three laboratory specifically set aside for "high-powered" bugs such as HIV, e.coli and CJD.

Commissioning co-ordinator Barbara McCaffrey said: "We are not testing for those types of bugs at the moment, but we have to look ahead to the next 20 years."

Also upstairs are store rooms, a cold room and staff quarters.

In the operating theatre and surrounding rooms, Judi Wellden says they invested in the best equipment they could afford.

"Everything that has been commissioned will last about 20 years - that is a long time if you have chosen the wrong equipment. In here we have the most appropriate equipment for Orkney. We have not scrimped at all."

It is hoped the new operating theatre will be ready to open in March.

"After phase three and the wards are up to the same standard, then we will have a hospital in Orkney that we need," Mrs Wellden said.

The building has been completed on time and within budget and staff have been praised for continuing to deliver a first class service in the midst of a busy building site.

The hospital corridors have also been given a face-lift with specially commissioned photographs ready to line the walls.

Mrs Wellden said: "The Balfour Hospital belongs to the people of Orkney and one of the aims of these open days is to encourage people to see it as a place of their own."

It is hoped that First Minister Henry McLeish will officially open the new premises at the beginning of March.

"By then I would love to see some art work from Orkney's children on the corridor walls. We 'd like their impressions of what the hospital means to them. We will be offering prizes and sending out details to the schools."

The new operating theatre, X-ray suite and laboratories are in addition to the recently opened Day Hospital, Day Surgery Unit and new Orkney Macmillan House.

"We are not stopping here," Mrs Wellden said. "The builders are currently improving outpatients and reception. Plans are also under way for the final phase of the redevelopment, which will include new wards, kitchens and staff facilities."

The final phase will cost £8-10 million, and it is hoped work will start in 2002 or 2003.