Southend Hospital A&E moving to new block (From Echo)

What a waste of money moving into this new building/refurbished building if they are then going to move into a brand-new seperate building.

guygrim wrote:
What a waste of money moving into this new building/refurbished building if they are then going to move into a brand-new seperate building.

Why is it a waste of money? The new and refurbished blocks were built ages ago now - clearly there has been a greater demand for a wider range of hospital services since then. People always moan that taxpayers' money is wasted on things when it could be spent on school and hospitals, so don't complain when some decent investment is finally actually going towards improving hospital services.

DannyK86 wrote:

guygrim wrote: What a waste of money moving into this new building/refurbished building if they are then going to move into a brand-new seperate building.

Why is it a waste of money? The new and refurbished blocks were built ages ago now - clearly there has been a greater demand for a wider range of hospital services since then. People always moan that taxpayers' money is wasted on things when it could be spent on school and hospitals, so don't complain when some decent investment is finally actually going towards improving hospital services.

I thought the block the A&E department was built specially for them?

It will be good if the medical assessment ward/critical care/high dependency could be close together, as the report suggests.

guygrim wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

guygrim wrote: What a waste of money moving into this new building/refurbished building if they are then going to move into a brand-new seperate building.

Why is it a waste of money? The new and refurbished blocks were built ages ago now - clearly there has been a greater demand for a wider range of hospital services since then. People always moan that taxpayers' money is wasted on things when it could be spent on school and hospitals, so don't complain when some decent investment is finally actually going towards improving hospital services.

I thought the block the A&E department was built specially for them?

it probably was, but that was over 10 years ago now and no doubt there are mroe strains upon hospital facilities now than there were then. The existing bits of the hospital aren't being cleared away, just converted for a new use.

how unfair on the residents in the area to have to tolerate yet more building work....this has been non stop for over 10 years.

and how come the hospital can get pretty much all planning permission granted, when the residents in the area have difficulty??

stinka wrote:
how unfair on the residents in the area to have to tolerate yet more building work....this has been non stop for over 10 years. and how come the hospital can get pretty much all planning permission granted, when the residents in the area have difficulty??

Because hospitals are a vital community service, whilst your loft conversion isn't?

DannyK86 wrote:

stinka wrote: how unfair on the residents in the area to have to tolerate yet more building work....this has been non stop for over 10 years. and how come the hospital can get pretty much all planning permission granted, when the residents in the area have difficulty??

Because hospitals are a vital community service, whilst your loft conversion isn't?

where in the post did i refer to a loft conversion?

DannyK86 wrote:

stinka wrote: how unfair on the residents in the area to have to tolerate yet more building work....this has been non stop for over 10 years. and how come the hospital can get pretty much all planning permission granted, when the residents in the area have difficulty??

Because hospitals are a vital community service, whilst your loft conversion isn't?

where in the post did i refer to a loft conversion?

Just for info, the current A & E department was opened in 2002 by Baroness Boothroyd, according to the plaque just inside the door.

The new dept will be a much needed and a fantastic up and coming necessity for local residents. As someone who knows exactly how the current department is used we will welcome a bigger working space and more patient cubicles. Our patient numbers increase steadily each year and we need a department that will be able to accomodate this rise. Sadly people abuse the A&E system and feel it is appropriate to attend with coughs and colds, and not accidents and emergencies!! maybe if they attended only for emergencies then we would not need the extra space!!

stinka wrote:

DannyK86 wrote:

stinka wrote: how unfair on the residents in the area to have to tolerate yet more building work....this has been non stop for over 10 years. and how come the hospital can get pretty much all planning permission granted, when the residents in the area have difficulty??

Because hospitals are a vital community service, whilst your loft conversion isn't?

where in the post did i refer to a loft conversion?

Exactly, so it;s not over ten years old is it? So why do we need another new A&E department?

Medical advances mean that buildings need to change to take these into account. There comes a point when it is not cost effective to keep knocking down the odd wall or two and move things round a bit. Many years ago I visitied an old victorian hospital in London and there was local uproar with plans to rebuild it. But the rooms were to small etc. and it was quite apparent that rebuilding was the right course of action. Hospital buildings are not museums. A working hospital needs to keep evolving with latest advances so as to provide the best care for patients.