3 March 2022

The first phase of our intensive care unit (ICU) revamp at Frimley Park, which focused on the B side, is complete and set to open to patients on14 March.  

This extensive upgrade has introduced two isolation rooms to care for patients with highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19 or Ebola, a first for Frimley Health. The unit was also expanded to include  three new side rooms. 

The new state-of-the-art filtration systems change the air ten times every hour, and they are attached to individual ante rooms, giving staff have a safe, hygienic space to put on or remove personal protective equipment (PPE). 

The  unit’s redesign was done around the specific needs of critical care patients, for example, bed pendants emit light to aid patients suffering from delirium and sky panels in the ceiling bring natural light above the bed space.  

Di Dodsworth, Head of Nursing for Critical Care, said: “Everything from the colour scheme, to the ceiling lights and the new state-of-the-art bed pendants have been carefully selected to provide the most calming, comfortable and caring environment for patients.  

“Work started during the pandemic but by relocating the unit we were able to deal with the challenges it brought and kept the project on track. The final results are really impressive and I’m so proud of all of the staff who have been involved in the project.” 

The second phase of the project, to refurbish ICU A, will begin later this month and is expected to be completed in September. Once finished, the extensive £2.3 million project will increase ICU capacity by a third, taking it from a 12-bed to a 16-bed unit. 

Cheryl Callow, Project Manager in the Capital Projects team, has worked closely with the clinical team. 

She said: “It is challenging completing work like this in a live hospital environment, but the whole team has done an amazing job to complete it on time. 

“The extension and remodelling will enhance patient care by creating more bed spaces for the critically ill and improve the environment with better facilities for staff and patients’ families.”