A new hospital is emerging – Skovde News

A new maternity hospital is finished and the autumn is inaugurated new premises for child care in Skaraborg Hospital Skövde. But that is only the beginning of a process of change that will renew almost the entire hospital where about 2,000 people work.

Three billion will be invested in renovation, new buildings and new equipment. Everything should be finished in 2023.

What does this mean for patients?

– This means the best possible care and, above all, equal care. No matter where you live in the Västra Götaland region should receive equal care. As a county hospital, we can not offer anything but we will be able to do more in areas such as diagnostics and surgery, says Eva Sundström, deputy hospital director.

There are two strong reasons behind the initiative; secondly the redevelopment of the health hazardous chemicals PCBs contained in sealants in the building and which was approved for use when the hospital was built between 1968 and 1976. The clean-up began in 2008 and must be completed by 2022.

– It is not realistic cleaning up unless we are renovating. The hospital is over 40 years old and in great need of refurbishing, says Patrik Rubenson.

There have also been new rules and other conditions that make it difficult to build on the existing premises.

– The wards will have a single room with private toilet and operating theaters need to have double-surface and higher ceilings because there is more equipment today, says Eva Sundstrom.

Once the wards are rebuilt, there are fewer hospital beds, Today there are close to 700 beds and will reduce to around 500. With new technology, better medicines and more outpatient care, the need for inpatient decrease.

In addition to new facilities for childbirth – and child care, a new dental center built for the specialist. Emergency and ambulance service gets new premises, as well as surgical and inpatient psychiatry, who moved from Falkirk.

To make such extensive changes while the daily activities in progress is the biggest challenge, says Patrik Rubenson.

– Building of a strategic decision to evacuate and free up space in existing premises for redevelopment, he says.

Much of gunpowder will be placed on reducing energy consumption. Region Västra Götaland has decided that it is to be halved by 2030.

– In concrete terms, this includes installing modern technology for ventilation, reducing energy losses and to ensure that all technologies should be energy efficient. We see everywhere, from small parts to put out the lights to bigger things, such as our own plant for solar energy, says Patrik Rubenson.