More than £19 million invested in Inverclyde Royal hospital over last five years

Thursday, August 3, 2017

The health board is underlining its commitment to the Inverclyde Royal Hospital (IRH) with £800,000 investment over the current financial year. 

This latest round of funding takes the board’s investment over the last five years to £19,135,000. 

Part of the new funding is being used to buy new medical equipment  as well as significant further investment in the boilerhouse. Money has also been allocated to update fire control measures, CCTV, drainage works, heating controls and lighting. 

Last year the board carried out a £2.5 million investment in a new boiler at the IRH as well as committing £400,000 on a new chiller unit to regulate temperature in wards in the summer and £430,000 in energy efficiency works. 

Other works ranged from the infrastructure supplying every bed with medical gas and air being upgraded at a cost of £120,000 to the water mains supply being upgraded  thanks to £250,000 funding.

The money is in addition to recent capital investment in the hospital which includes: 

• £1.2 million refurbishment of the Emergency Department (ED) and the main entrance
• £4.3 million on a new clean room for ophthalmology patients undergoing intra-vitreal therapy, and refurbishment of oncology and haematology areas
• £6.5 million NHS centre for specialist dementia and mental health support on the IRH site

• £2.5 million in new IRH main boiler house
• £500,000 new state-of-the-art tube system for transfer of bloods and samples throughout the hospital
• £370,000 on a new canopy for Emergency Department and new gym roof
• £750,000 on new Medical Equipment in 2016/17.

David Loudon, director of Property, Procurement and Facilities Management, NHSGGC, said: “This latest tranche of investment in the IRH means the board will have directed almost £19 million of funding to the hospital in recent years. 

“This is a significant sum of money and demonstrates the important role the IRH plays in the NHSGGC estate. 

“We intend to keep investing in our hospitals and this money will be spent on improving the fabric and infrastructure of the IRH for the benefit of both staff and patients. 

“We will do our very best to keep disruption to a minimum for patients and staff while this latest round of investment work is carried out.”