In a ceremony at Noble’s Hospital the Minister unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion and spoke to guests – including contractors, staff involved in the project and clinicians who deliver care to the Island’s seriously ill babies – to congratulate them on the achievement of successfully completing the project on time and on budget.
The Minister said:
"Today is an important milestone for neonatal care in the Isle of Man and represents a major investment in the Island's healthcare infrastructure. This £4 million state of the art facility ensures that we can maintain our status as a 'level 2' neonatal unit and adhere to the exacting standards set by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine.
"We have here exceptional facilities to meet the needs of new-born babies who require specialist support and care – undoubtedly some of the most vulnerable people who will ever require the services of Noble's Hospital.
"I would like to place on record my thanks and congratulations to everyone involved in the project for the difference it will make to future generations."
Professor Neena Modi of Imperial College London who serves as President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health was the guest of honour, and travelled to the Island for the opening ceremony.
Professor Modi expressed her delight with the new facilities:
"I'd like to congratulate the team on this great achievement. It was a pleasure to tour the unit and I can see there has been vision in its design. It is absolutely up to the specifications that we expect; it is future proof and will stand the Island in good stead over the years to come."
The facility is the first major extension to Noble's Hospital since it opened in 2003. Located on the first floor of the east wing of the hospital, next to the Jane Crookall Maternity Ward, the unit provides:
- Nine cots with dedicated rooms for resuscitation and isolation
- An improved layout and floor plan with two separate ward environments which enhances privacy and reduces the risk of infection
- Improved overnight accommodation for parents, an important consideration at what can be an extremely distressing time
- Additional storage space for vital equipment.
Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Noble's Hospital, Dr Prakash Thiagarajan, said:
"It's been almost 10 weeks since the unit opened. The move went well and we have an exceptional facility which is making a real difference to the quality of care we are able to provide acutely unwell new-borns and the support we can provide their parents.
"It is always a challenge to meet standards as they continually evolve, but we have been extremely fortunate to receive this significant investment for which I would like to thank the Isle of Man Government and Members of Tynwald. It is a lasting legacy that will make a real difference to people's lives."
The contractors included architects Savage and Chadwick; quantity surveyors Bell Burton Associates; structural engineers MacOwan Collett Consulting Engineers; services by Hoare Lea; planning supervision by Architecture in Mann; and Auldyn Construction as the main contractor.
