The Royal visit in Liverpool
 
The sun always shines on the righteous, or so it is said. That turned out to be correct in every detail, as members of the Crafty Companions Cycling Circle paid a visit to the new multi-million pound Royal Liverpool Hospital. Meeting in the foyer of the present hospital, three members of the Cycling Circle, Stu Hyde, Geoff Cuthill and Steve Walls, accompanied by their respective partners, were warmly welcomed by Angela McShane of the “R” Charity. Sadly, as this was a daytime visit it precluded the cyclists of working age. Angela is the Community Fundraiser with the ‘R’ Charity, which is based within the hospital and provides support to those who wish to plan and organise fundraising events and offers help and advice on how to achieve a successful outcome.
Angela McShane, Linda and Geoff Cuthill, Steve Walls, Jan Jackson, Stu and Norma Hyde.
The Crafty Companions Cycling Circle has, for the last three years, completed a number of charity events which have included an annual charity bike ride. These rides have stuck as far as possible to canal paths which has made for some interesting escapades along the way. The three rides so far tackled have been, Leeds to Liverpool in 2014, followed by Hull to Liverpool 2015, and earlier on this year, Liverpool to Freemasons Hall, London. Next year is now in the planning stage. In recognition of their fund raising achievements the “R” Charity arranged a visit to the new hospital which is scheduled for opening in 2017.
 
This new 12-storey £335 million super hospital will contain 646 beds, all individual en-suite rooms, spread across 23 wards. There will be a 40 bed critical care unit and 18 operating theatres. The current Royal Liverpool Hospital will then be demolished once the new Royal is open to make way for a new bio-campus dedicated to scientific research.
The group at the panoramic window
The tour started, as previously mentioned, with a warm welcome by Angela, who took the group to the new site, via the health and safety induction. It was here that the group was kitted out with all the required equipment and a briefing on site protocols by Pete Leadbetter, Project Engineering Manager and Victoria Manchee the Projects Health and Safety Logistics Manager, who were to accompany the group. Inside the new complex they were met by Ian Burke, the Project Manager from Carillion, the company undertaking this mammoth construction scheme.
The knowledge imparted to the group by these three guides was truly phenomenal, it gave whole new outlook to the group on how they viewed the building. heating from underground bore holes, natural lighting in each room, the complexity of the integrated ward levels. Every aspect had been deeply thought out with relevance given to each stage, with best practice taken from other builds throughout the country, and beyond.
 
Parts of the hospital have neared their final finish, with the group seeing a completed operating theatre, and recovery room, critical care unit, and the state of the art patient room, all provided with individual en-suite facilities. The thinking is quite revolutionary in some way regarding patient care for the thinking is that in having single rooms for inpatients this will not only provide greater privacy and dignity for them it will also help to improve patient safety by enhancing the management of infection and reducing hospital-acquired infections. The hope is that this will help the hospital become a much nicer and relaxed environment, a benefit to the patients, their family, and friends and visitors.
Part of the view from the restaurant, the Masonic Hall on Hope Street
can clearly be seen between the two cathedrals
One great benefit will be that every patient room will contain a large “Freeview” television, which the patient will have control of, plus enough room for fully reclining chairs so relatives can stay over. Very handy if there is a good match on tv. These extra facilities will be funded by part of the funds raised by R Charity in their Ten Million Pound Appeal. The funds raised by the Crafty Companions, now heading way past £15,000 towards their new total aim of £20,000, has been ring-fenced by the R Charity to be used towards equipping in-patient treatment rooms for those suffering from cancer.

As the group toured the building they became very appreciative of the panoramic views afforded to them including the restaurant near to the top of the building. This will be for the use of patients, visitors, and guests and will easily rival anywhere in the city regarding the views of the buildings, across the Wirral and the Welsh hills clearly seen in the distance. Of course, depending where you are in the building, the view alters, and the new stand at Liverpool Football Club clearly enhances the panoramic pleasure for all. After a three-hour tour, covering the whole building, the group returned back to the current hospital where after divesting themselves of all the health and safety equipment, the ladies particularly pleased to swop the steel toe capped boots for their own footwear, they relaxed with coffee and cake in the sunshine.

Article and Photographs courtesy of Geoff Cuthill