TEMPORARY changes to the traffic system at the Western General Hospital are being made as the Royal Victoria Building takes shape.
As part of ongoing construction work for the new Royal Victoria Building on the Western General site, Porterfield Road will be partly closed for four weeks from Thursday 3 March.
The £43.6m Royal Victoria Building is being built on the former Paderewski Building in the grounds of the Western General Hospital.
The closure will allow the construction of a bridge to connect the new building with the existing Anne Ferguson Building.
Porterfield Road, which is currently one-way, will be closed at the bus stop outside the Anne Ferguson Building.
Access to the multi-storey car park will be available through the entrance opposite Westwoods Health Club. Access for taxis, ambulances, disabled parking and drop off point will be available through the normal Porterfield Road entrance.
Both of these routes will become two-way to allow traffic to enter and exit the site.
Buses which usually stop at the bus stop on the Western General site will stop on the bus stop on Crewe Road South instead.
Jackie Sansbury, chief operating officer for acute services, NHS Lothian, said: “The Royal Victoria Building is starting to take shape, and creating the bridge to link the new building with the Western General Hospital is an exciting step forward.
“I would ask that patients, staff and visitors bear with us while this important work takes place. The arrangements will be clearly signposted to ensure minimal disruption is caused.”
From 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday, pedestrian access to the hospital from the multi-storey car park will be available through the entrance to the Outpatients Department.
Patients, staff and visitors who require access to the hospital outside of these hours will be redirected to the entrance at the front of the Anne Ferguson Building, via Crewe Road South.
During this time, patients, staff and visitors with mobility problems should use the disabled parking at the front of the Anne Ferguson Building, through the normal Porterfield Road entrance.
From Monday 4 April, access to the hospital will be restored to normal.
The new Royal Victoria Building is due to open in 2012, and will provide the highest quality healthcare services in a modern setting and will be the first of its kind to consist of 100 per cent single rooms to promote privacy and dignity.
The building will provide services for patients aged 65 and over, rheumatology and dermatology patients. It will also include in-patient services as well as the medical day hospital.
Ends
Notes for editors:
- For a map detailing the arrangements contact NHS Lothian’s Communications team.
Issued: 01.03.2011
Aileen MacArthur
Acting Communications Manager
0131 465 5646
Aileen.macarthur@nhs.net
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Website: http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
