Almost 100 years after it first opened Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton, renowned for its specialist work with amputees, has a brand new home. Wandsworth Teaching Primary Care Trust who manage the hospital, can now start the process of transferring all of its existing services, staff and patients into the new £55 million Private Finance Initiative (PFI) hospital provided by Catalyst Healthcare.

Constructed within the original hospital grounds, this large community hospital will now have a state of the art, four-storey building containing all the modern equipment needed to offer the local population and its patients from around the world, the latest treatment techniques.

In line with the Government’s vision for community hospitals outlined in its recent white paper ‘Our Health, Our Care,’ the ground floor offers an innovative Rapid Diagnostic Centre and outpatient department. The design and modernisation of the new facilities mean these clinics will be able to see more patients each year.

In the Rapid Diagnostic Centre, patients will receive all the necessary tests, diagnosis and a treatment package during their initial visit. Updating this service will lead to shorter waiting times, help alleviate anxiety and dramatically reduce the number of visits each patient needs to make.

Helen Walley, Chief Executive for Wandsworth Teaching Primary Care Trust said “We are thrilled with our new home it looks amazing. The rebuilding of this historic hospital has been a true example of what can be achieved when you work closely with your partner organisations. Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton is a beacon for all community hospitals and reflects the future of NHS treatment and care.

“I am so proud of all our staff and their hard work and dedication to this project. I would really like to thank everyone that has been involved including all our patients that gave up their time to help shape the new hospital.”

The new Queen Mary’s Hospital has also brought significant improvements for mental health services. South West London & St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust’s Addiction Treatment Centre has been relocated to the new building, as have some of the Community Mental Health Teams. The first floor accommodates three wards each containing 23 single bedrooms with ensuite bathroom facilities. Each ward has its own courtyard roof garden and designated women-only areas.

Christine Carter, Interim Chief Executive of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, said “Our service users were actively involved with the design of the mental health unit which revolutionises the way mental health patients are looked after. Some of our users are the most excluded and vulnerable people in society and now they will be fully integrated into a healthcare setting. It is a timely and unique environment to be in.”

March 7, 2006