In Summer 2006, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trusts in partnership with Skanska Innisfree will be opening the doors to one of the largest super hospitals in the UK.

Spanning one quarter of a mile long and over 5 storeys high the University Hospital will house 32 state of the art operating theatres and the majority of the 1,200 beds will be in single rooms with en-suite facilities.

Completion of the new University Hospital will signify the beginning of a new era in healthcare for the people of Coventry, Warwickshire and beyond.

The hospital’s development is already being hailed as one of the finest examples of 21st Century healthcare facilities and will undoubtedly be one of the most modern hospitals of its kind in Europe.

The Hospital Trust has already opened a purpose built Centre for Reproductive Medicine, a Technology Centre, and a modern Clinical Sciences Building with a library, teaching and conference facilities. For more information please visit the website at www.uhcw.nhs.uk

The Department of Clinical Gerontology is in the process of developing new services which will be able to offer patients facilities for the new millennium.

To those who have worked in many different units over the years, including some from the Victorian era, this seems an amazing development. It will offer excellent facilities for older people including specialist acute gerontology units, acute and enhanced stroke units, neurovascular work and specialist rehabilitation services for orthopaedics and stroke. Coupled with this is a big investment in Intermediate Care in Coventry to develop a more community focused approach to specialist care for older people.

This is likely to result in additional consultant posts in the Department of Clinical Gerontology in the near future.

Jon Lismore
Chair, BGS West Midlands Branch