PATIENTS at Armidale Hospital during summer will soon have a more comfortable recovery from surgery. Two of the old hospital's wards are now fully air-conditioned, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced this week.
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The hospital worked over the Christmas break to air condition the old surgical ward and maternity ward, Mr Marshall said.
"In the past it worried me to hear reports of patients returned to the surgical ward with little to no cooling during the hottest time of the year," Mr Marshall said.
Hospital staff contacted the MP last year with their concerns the lack of cooling was causing stifling conditions on the ward. Temperatures in the surgical ward reached 35 degrees last summer, staff reported.
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This made it difficult for patients to recover from surgery, and made new families in the maturity section uncomfortable. The only way to cool the ward was to open the emergency exit door and use two large fans to circulate the air.
Mr Marshall said he wrote to Hunter New England Local Health District CEO Michael Di Rienzo expressing the community's frustration, and requested that the wards be air-conditioned as soon as possible.
"The last thing somebody needs after going through surgery is to find themselves in a sweltering room and unable to rest, which is why I'm pleased action has been taken," Mr Marshall said.
Cooling on the ward would also improve conditions for Armidale Hospital's hard working medical staff, the MP said.
"One of the purposes of the $60 million upgrade and refurbishment of the Armidale Hospital was to bring the facility up to modern medical standards," he said.
"For many years, the lack of air conditioning in the old hospital has meant doctors, nurses, and wardsmen had to undertake their strenuous roles in uncomfortable conditions which staff said greatly affected their ability to work.
"I hope now this new addition to the hospital improves the experience for both staff and patients."
