The Building is Ready!

St Luke’s Operating Theatre block is complete

 

It was back in 2016 that Dr Chris Huigens raised the need for a second operating theatre at St Luke’s. Too often there was a patient requiring an emergency operation while the only existing theatre was being used for a routine procedure. After two years of discussion and planning, the target of £175,000 was set. MACS was able to commit £100,000 from existing reserves and, with generous donations and bequests from individuals, the people of the parish of Oakley with Wootton, the people of the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway and from the Capricorn Trust, the target was reached. In March 2019 building began and fifteen months later the building is ready.

 

The new building provides facilities for strict infection control through carefully designed routes through the block and improved instrument sterilization. There is a purpose-built recovery room so that patients will be monitored and any immediate post-operative problems can be swiftly addressed. Staff facilities have been improved, and infection control assisted, by providing male and female changing rooms, showers, and wash basins.

 

A substantial bequest from Australia and gifts from supporters in UK should enable St Luke’s to cover the cost of equipping these new operating theatres. These gifts include a generous donation from the parish of Kingston Bagpuize in Oxfordshire, a doctor and her husband in North Wales plus £225 raised through a Facebook fundraiser who last year spent a few weeks at St Luke’s as part of her nursing training.