Royal Victoria Infirmary

This is a shot of one of the two main hospitals in Newcastle, the RVI, the other being the Freeman hospital, both of which are where I spend my working life.

The hospitals in Newcastle have been undergoing major transformation over the 13 years I've worked in the city and this massive project is now almost complete. The third hospital in the city, the General Hospital where I worked for 10 of those 13 years is now closed and the neurotrauma intensive care unit where I was a Sister moved to new 'state of the art' premises within the new wing of the RVI.

The car park which you see in the foreground was completed this week and it is a strange sight to any who knew the hospital of old. This extensive area housed a large red brick building accommodating the laundry and other services for the hospital. It was demolished some time ago and hoardings have been obscuring the site for about 2 years. Although the car park is less than bonny, it is great to see the area opened up and tidy.

On the very left of the shot is the original remaining wing of the hospital, fondly called Peacock Hall in the Old Victoria Wing, and on the right of the shot the Great North Children's Hospital which is in a dedicated wing of the hospital.

As folks local to the north east know, the RVI covers an enormous site and when patients and visitors stop me in the corridors and ask directions I am not always able to advise them as we the staff are still getting to know the new nooks and crannies!

Change is inevitable and I believe the changes which have been made to the bricks and mortar of this site are definitely for the best. The old departments which were no longer fit for purpose have been rehoused and rejuvenated. I truly hope that the professionalism of the staff to undertake their duties and provide dedicated and compassionate care can equal the impressive facilities which we now enjoy