New HQ for borough’s sexual health service
THE borough’s sexual health service has relocated to a new location at the front of Rotherham Hospital, with health bosses pledging patients are set to benefit from “improved access and a more modern environment.”
Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust's service has moved into a refurbished space within the former pre-operative assessment unit, placing it immediately adjacent to the hospital’s main entrance and making it easier for patients to find and access care.
The move forms part of a wider, multi-million-pound programme of investment to enhance urgent and emergency care services and improve patient experience across the hospital which has seen a new pre-operative assessment unit and a purpose-built Medical Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service.
The programme has been supported by £7million in government funding aimed at increasing capacity and improving patient flow within urgent and emergency care services.
Dr Nadi Gupta, clinical lead for sexual health, said: “This is an exciting step forward for our service.
“The new location provides a welcoming, modern environment for our patients while maintaining the privacy and dignity that are so important in sexual health care.
“Being based at the front of the hospital will make it much easier for people to access our services, and we look forward to continuing to support the health and wellbeing of our community in this improved setting.”
Sally Kilgariff, chief operating officer at TRFT, said: “This move is an important milestone in our wider programme of investment across Rotherham Hospital.
“By creating modern, purpose-designed facilities and improving the layout of our services, we are making it easier for patients to access the care they need and supporting our teams to deliver high-quality care.”
“Alongside developments such as our new SDEC service and the future fracture clinic, this scheme is helping us to meet growing demand and improve the overall experience for patients and staff.”
The sexual health service will continue to provide a full range of confidential advice, testing and treatment, alongside contraception and specialist support for patients across the borough.
Work has now started in the former location of the service, in the middle of the hospital, to transform it into a new fracture clinic which is due to open later this year.