26 June 2019
Two more houses which will accommodate junior doctors working at SaTH have been completed – thanks to community support.
The houses at the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Telford were completed last week and will accommodate a total of eight doctors.
It brings the total number of houses now refurbished at PRH to four, with work due to begin on a further two houses later this year.
The renovations have been possible thanks to the support of the community, including town and parish councils and local tradespeople, who have donated money, time and furnishings following a DIY SOS-style appeal made by Telford & Wrekin Council.
Once all six houses are finished, they will house a total of 24 junior doctors for free for six months to help them settle into life as a working doctor at SaTH, and also help the Trust recruit staff to its ranks by making it a more attractive place to work.
The renovation project was the idea of Dr Chris Mowatt, Consultant Anaesthetist at SaTH, who said the support of the community had been overwhelming in getting it off the ground and making it a success.
Dr Mowatt said: “This has been a real partnership between the NHS and the community and shows just what can be done when we work together. The houses look fantastic, completely unrecognisable from how they originally were.
“This will really make coming and working in our hospitals an attractive opportunity for those doctors just starting out, and we hope that as they rotate around other hospitals they will spread the word about what a great place PRH is to work.”
Julia Clarke, Director of Corporate Governance at SaTH, said: “This project has been more successful than we could ever have hoped and that is down to the support of the community. The local population really do love and support their NHS and this is a great example.
“We would like to thank everybody who has played their part to make this a reality, it has really paid off and the houses do look wonderful.”
A thank you barbecue was recently held on the new patio behind the doctors’ houses for all those involved in the project.
Parish and town councils from across the borough have donated more than £30,000 towards the project, along with businesses and individuals donating materials and resources.
It comes after a new Doctors’ Mess was opened at PRH, funded by SaTH, to create a welcoming space for doctors to rest and network within the hospital itself, 24-hours-a-day. It replaced an outdated bungalow, which was away from the main hospital.