TUESDAY, 24 MARCH, 2020

Immediate release:

Changes to Ninewells Hospital wards

NHS Tayside has made a number of changes to the wards within Ninewells Hospital in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

For staff and patient safety, the decision was made to split the hospital into two distinct areas. East Block is now for patients who are displaying symptoms, or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. West Block is now for all other patients.

The changes necessary to create this capacity in East Block include:

• Trauma & Orthopaedics wards (17,18 and 19) moving to Ward 27, West Block

• Surgical wards 9 & 12 (Vascular and Urology Services) moving into Ward 23a, West Block

• Main theatre recovery area is now operating as the COVID-19 Intensive Treatment Unit

• Major Trauma Unit is now operating as the COVID-19 High Dependency Unit

• Burns Unit reassigned as the Surgical High Dependency Unit

A number of other changes have been made to support the delivery of care throughout the hospital:

• Ward 26 is now the supporting all breast, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ear,Nose and Throat, Plastic and Ophthalmology patients.

• Ward 8 is now supporting unscheduled orthopaedic trauma

• Ward 23B now supports both Neurology and Neurosurgery

Theatre arrangements at Ninewells Hospital have also changed:

• Theatre 1, main theatre suite, is now the COVID-19 Emergency Theatre for all surgical specialties

• Theatres 21 and 22 are for all other emergency theatre and trauma theatre, including Paediatrics Theatre 8 will support our highest priority Neurosurgery, Urology and Oncology patients

• Theatre 9 will support our highest priority Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ear,Nose and Throat, Plastic and Ophthalmology patients

• Theatres 10 and 11 will support our highest priority general surgery, Vascular and Gynaecology patients

There are a number of services where no changes have been made:

• Intensive Care Unit

• Ward 7 Acute Receiving

• Acute Medical Unit and Ward 1, 2 and 3

• Neonatal Unit and Ward 29

• Obstetric High Risk Labour suite and wards

• Ward 36 gynaecology

Chief Executive Grant Archibald said, “NHS Tayside clinicians and managers have been working hard to develop plans for the expected increase in capacity.

“We have been seeking guidance from healthcare settings across the world and as a result we have taken the decision to separate Ninewells Hospital into two distinct areas.

“This has been an incredible effort by all of our staff. Everyone has been working extremely hard to get these plans in place, in what is an already difficult situation.

“In addition to the efforts at Ninewells Hospital, work has been ongoing at Perth Royal Infirmary to ensure it plays a pivotal role in providing the additional capacity necessary to continue to support patients who do not have COVID-19.”

Contact:

Cara Longmuir

NHS Tayside Communications