End of an Era
During the hours of darkness last night, the Intensive Care Unit, and Accident and Emergency Department made the move from Newcastle General Hospital to new state of the art facilities at the regenerated Royal Victoria Infirmary in the city centre. In recent weeks, other services have also made the move to the RVI or Freeman Hospital in the city. A&E was the last department to make the move, leaving the general hospital pretty much vacant, save a walk-in-centre for minor injuries.
Newcastle General Hospital started life as the Infirmary for Newcastle Union Workhouse in 1870. After 140 years of care, and due to a reorganisation of healthcare in the area, it is no longer the district general hospital. Instead, some of the site is set to form part of the "Science City" initiative and Newcastle University "Campus for Ageing and Vitality". Some of the site is also open for commercial development, which a huge supermarket chain planning an over-sized market. However, the surrounding area is home to a strong multi-ethnic community and full of specialist stores, so they face fierce opposition - there were protests and petitions doing the rounds before we moved and so far nothing has been given the go ahead :O)
The Communicable Disease Control Unit in which I work, were previously based on the General Hospital site, until a couple of years ago when they moved us to a Government building. We were on the middle floor of an attached building, with the laboratory above us and the morgue below - some of the smells were interesting. The day we moved out was very emotional. I had only been there for 4 years, which was nothing compared to some of the nurses in our unit, who had completed their nursing training in the hospital. There was plenty of tears shed. It's fascinating, though awesome, how attached we get to buildings.
Newcastle General Hospital started life as the Infirmary for Newcastle Union Workhouse in 1870. After 140 years of care, and due to a reorganisation of healthcare in the area, it is no longer the district general hospital. Instead, some of the site is set to form part of the "Science City" initiative and Newcastle University "Campus for Ageing and Vitality". Some of the site is also open for commercial development, which a huge supermarket chain planning an over-sized market. However, the surrounding area is home to a strong multi-ethnic community and full of specialist stores, so they face fierce opposition - there were protests and petitions doing the rounds before we moved and so far nothing has been given the go ahead :O)
The Communicable Disease Control Unit in which I work, were previously based on the General Hospital site, until a couple of years ago when they moved us to a Government building. We were on the middle floor of an attached building, with the laboratory above us and the morgue below - some of the smells were interesting. The day we moved out was very emotional. I had only been there for 4 years, which was nothing compared to some of the nurses in our unit, who had completed their nursing training in the hospital. There was plenty of tears shed. It's fascinating, though awesome, how attached we get to buildings.