'I've loved every minute': Bloxwich Hospital staff say goodbye to health unit as they move into new state-of-the-art centre
Staff and patients at Bloxwich Hospital have spoken of their emotional tie to the hospital and of their move to a new £24.3m unit at Walsall.
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They held a 'final farewell' lunch at the hospital, which closes its doors today (Wednesday, February 5), with the opening of the Dorothy Pattison Older Adults Unit which is situated next to the Manor Hospital, Walsall.
The new unit is designed to provide high-quality inpatient care for older adults with dementia and functional mental health conditions, and offer a safer, more dignified, and recovery-focused environment for those in need.
One of the last patients to be housed at Bloxwich, and the first to move into the new unit is Ivan Glover from Aldridge who had been at Bloxwich Hospital for two and a half months.
He said: "It won't be a long stay at the new place as it hasn't been here but I have loved every minute of it at Bloxwich - the staff are wonderful, the food is great and there is a real family atmosphere about the place.
"I have seen pictures of the Dorothy Pattison unit and it looks fantastic with self contained units where you can have a shower or a bath and overall more space and facilities to make you comfortable - I am just glad the same staff are coming over as well."
Bloxwich Hospital was purchased by Walsall Town Council in 1927 and first opened as a maternity unit - a number of the staff who work there were born there.
Jackie Moylan is the manager of the Linden Ward which is also going to be the name of one of the wards at the new facility - she was born at Bloxwich Hospital, started there as a newly qualified nurse in 1999 and has done over 20 years on the site.
She said: "Since I first started here as a newly qualified nurse we were told it was closing and now it is finally happening.
"It has been quite emotional to see the removal team come in and it finally hit home that this is the end and there has been a few tears because a lot of the staff have been here a long time.
"But we know it is for the best for our patients and there is a family feel to Bloxwich which we hope to take to the new building which looks fantastic and has more room and facilities for staff and the people they treat.
Melissa James, Operational Manager for Older Adults started work in 2013 as a newly qualified nurse within the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust at Edward Street Hospital, Sandwell.
She said: "As much as there is a emotional attachment to Bloxwich, it was a confined space for staff and the patient group within dorms and all the challenges that presented.
"It is exciting to move to a new build which will provide that space and also the dignity and privacy they need to thrive in and hopefully return to their own homes or to another facility depending on their needs.
"This is such a contrast, the staff have done an amazing job at Bloxwich but it was within the constraints of space which doesn't help when there are patient incidents and even having a staff area where they can have an adequate break is going to be something to be welcomed, as well as them able to provide adequate care more easily.
