Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast - Remodeling

Remodeling

New RVH Hospital (Phase one)

The initial phase of the redevelopment plan provided:

• 400 beds
• Eight new theatres
• 25 bed-intensive care unit (one of the largest in Europe)
• Fracture clinic
• Central investigations unit
• Endocrinology unit
• Pharmacy
• Restaurant, coffee bar, Mace convenience store and vending machines

The new RVH is also linked to the refurbished ”A” Block.

The remodeling was completed ahead of schedule and within budget in autumn 2001 (for outpatient use), first bed occupancy in 2002 and official opening in 2003. The £42 million hospital was officially opened on 2 September 2003 by HRH Prince Charles, 100 years after King Edward VII opened the first RVH on 27 July 1903 with Queen Alexandra. The new 29,000-m2 building replaced the red-brick Victorian hospital; it has gained a commendation in the Royal Society of Ulster Architects Design Awards and a commendation in the Irish Landscape Institute Awards of 2002.

Imaging and Central Decontamination Centres (Phase 2A)

The £25 million Imaging Centre is a stand-alone structure located between Block A and the existing Cardiac Theatres on the RVH site. It was completed in March 2007 and opened shortly thereafter. The Central Decontamination Centre opened in May 2006 at a cost of £11 million, and houses one of the largest hospital-instrument-cleaning operations in the UK.

Critical Care Building (Phase 2B)

The £95 million critical-care building on the RVH site will be located next to the existing accident and emergency department and the outpatient centre. The 12-storey Critical Care Centre was given planning permission on 23 March 2007 (Ref Z/2006/2083/F). Within the new critical care building will be an accident and emergency department capable of dealing with up to 80,000 visits a year. Within Accident and Emergency there will be a resuscitation area, and departments for major and minor injuries and conditions. There will also be a helipad located on top of the building with a dedicated lift to allow for the speedy transfer of major trauma cases to the A&E (Accident & Emergency wards). Level three of the new building will have four additional theatres. Levels five, six and seven will be dedicated to intensive care. There is capacity for 16 beds per floor, with two eight-bed wards on each floor. A new education centre will be located on level eight of the building, with varyous-sized lecture theatres and seminar rooms to replace the existing education building. Level nine will house the new regional burn unit; this replaces the existing unit and provides for 12 beds and supporting accommodation. Construction work began in summer 2007 with site-clearance work and piling and basement preparations; it was expected to be completed in late 2011. Work on the 63-metre-high building will also involve extension of the existing Glazed Street – an elevated, two-storey link to the adjacent A-Block and a single-storey underground service duct.

Replacement of outpatient centre and eye, ear, nose and throat buildings (Phase 2C)

The proposed location of phase 2C is the area adjacent to the new imaging centre, between the new Royal Victoria Hospital and the old Victorian corridor running parallel to Grosvenor Road.