Wards renumbered in Wolverhampton New Cross hospital shake-up

All wards will be renumbered while some key departments will also change their name.

New signs are being installed to direct people around the site. Health bosses say they hope the move will make it easier for people to find their way around. The move has been brought in because until now blocks at the site have been named as and when they have been developed.

This means that the site is not in any particular order.

Bosses say the new system to rename the wards is based on an easy-to-understand system which has already been successful at other hospitals around the UK including the Royal University Hospital in Bath.

Every ward and department will be given a unique reference, such as A6 and will be in one of four zones – A, B, C or D.

When patients and visitors arrive at the hospital they will be directed to the zone they need. Once in the right one they will look for the number which will take them to the right location.

Under the changes the children's ward will change from being known as ward C1 to A21. Bosses are keen to stress nothing is moving and Mike Goodwin, the head of estates development at the hospital said: "We think it will be a significant improvement on what we have now."

Around 30 volunteers will be on hand to give advice at key positions around the hospital. Leaflets have also been produced and an interactive guide, which gives directions to wards, buildings and departments, will be available on the hospital's website.

There will also be maps and department lists positioned at information points around the hospital.

Patients who have appointments after Monday have already started receiving letters giving details of the new signage and how to get to where they need to go.

For more information about the changes log on to www.royalwolverhamp tonhospitals.nhs.uk

A helpline is also being set up in conjunction with the Patient Advisory Liaison Service on 01902 695362.