The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust was established on 1 April 1995 and enjoys the patronage HRH Princess Alexandra GCVO. The trust provides acute hospital services to the population of West Essex and East Hertfordshire. Most patients are from Harlow, Epping Forest, Uttlesford, East Hertfordshire and Broxbourne Districts, giving a catchment population of 448,787.
The services are currently located on three sites: -
- The PrincessAlexandra Hospital - in Harlow, Essex, the main site
- St. Margaret's Hospital Epping, Essex - Outpatients and diagnostic services
- Herts and Essex Hospital, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
The trust has 451 beds (including a 5 bed intensive care unit and a 5 bed HDU and 8 inpatients theatres). Day stay facilities are provided in the purpose built Alexandra Day unit, which was opened in 1995. This unit has 2 modern operating theatres and 2 endoscopy suites. The maternity unit delivers approximately 2,500 babies a year. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is undertaken in the Andrew Bryce Smith unit, which was opened in 1994.
The sites at Bishop's Stortford and Epping have been redeveloped as modern community hospitals. The Trust will continue to provide diagnostic, outpatient and minor day procedures at these sites. Outpatient services are currently provided on four sites including a clinic in Hoddesdon. Elderly continuing care, mental health, learning difficulties, professional therapeutic and other community services are provided by North Essex Mental Health trust and the other local Primary Care Trusts. St. Margaret's Hospital, Epping is managed by the Epping Forest Primary care Trust and Herts & Essex Hospital, Bishops Stortford, by the Royston, Buntingford and Bishop Stortford Primary Care Trust. The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust leases facilities on both these sites.
About the Princess Alexandra Hospital
The hospital was first opened in 1965. It is situated within easy walking distance of Harlow Town centre with good approach roads and is within easy reach of the M11. The following services are provided:-
- Child Health services including Child Development Centre
- Medicine for the elderly
- General medicine
- Cardiology and coronary care
- General surgery
- Urology
- Trauma and orthopaedics
- Plastic Surgery
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Ophthalmology
- ENT
- Maxillo-facial surgery
- Orthodontics
- Intensive and high dependency care
- Accident and emergency
- Radiology including CT & MRI
- Plus a full range of diagnostic and support services
The North Essex Mental Health Trust provides Mental Health services on the Princess Alexandra site.
The Hospital Departments
Accident and Emergency
The primary role of the Accident and Emergency Department is to provide emergency care of the acutely ill and injured patients arriving at the Hospital. Emergency care is also provided within the Accident and Emergency Department by the medical nursing staff for those patients referred by their General Practitioners. A secondary role of the A&E Service is to provide the initial care and when appropriate follow up care of the less seriously ill and injured presenting without referral to the hospital. The A&E Department sees approximately 55,000 new patients per annum and a total of 70,000 patients attend the department. There are three Consultant posts, 2 Staff Grades, 1 Specialist Registrar and 8 Senior House Officers.
ENT
The ENT Department consists of the following medical staff, 2 Consultants, 2 Associate Specialists and 2 Senior House Officers.
General Surgery
The department has 5 Consultant Surgeons, 1 Associate Specialist, and 4 Specialist Registrars, 1 Senior House Officer and 10 Pre-Registration House Officers. There are 68 Adult beds, 26 Children's beds and access to 10 same-day admission beds.
General Medicine
The department offers experience in acute General Medicine, Care of the Elderly and other specialist medicine services. There is an age related admissions policy with patients above the age of 80 admitted under the team for care of the elderly. There are seven Consultants in the Medical Directorate Team with interests in Chest Medicine, Cardiology, Diabetes and Gastroenterology. Other specialities within the Medical Directorate are Neurology, Sexual Health, Rheumatology, Dermatology ,Haematology and Oncology and these are the responsibilities of a further 12 Consultants. The Care of the Elderly Team consists of four Consultants. The department as a whole has 5 Specialist Registrars, 1 Senior SHO, 13 Senior House Officers and 6 PRHOs.
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
The department consists of the following medical staff, four Consultants, two Trust Doctors, four Specialist Registrars, and six SHOs.
Ophthalmology
The department consists of 3 Consultants, 2 Clinical Assistants, 1 Senior Clinical Medical Officer, 2 Clinical Medical Officers, I Registrar and 2 SHOs. There is access to 17 adult beds, 6 day stay trolleys and paediatrics. There are Outpatient Clinics at PrincessAlexandraHospital, St. Margaret's Hospital and Herts & EssexHospital. There are 8 inpatient/day case theatre sessions available to Ophthalmology.
Orthopaedics
The department consists of the following medical staff, 6 Consultants, 4 Specialist Registrars, 1 Research Registrar, 1 Registrar and 6 SHOs. The Orthopaedic department within the Trust is regionally renowned for providing an excellent standard of surgery. The established special interests of the Orthopaedic Surgeons are as follows; Knee and Trauma Surgery, Hip and Knee Surgery, Hand and Upper Limb Surgery, Spinal Surgery, Non Union Surgery and Limb Reconstruction and Paediatric Surgery. It is anticipated that there will soon be an additional post specialising in Shoulder Surgery.
Paediatrics
Dolphin Ward has beds for Paediatric Medicine, general surgery, trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Children admitted for surgery come under the joint care of the Paediatricians and Surgeons with the former taking the responsibility for medical management. A high standard of secondary care is delivered from both in-patient and outpatient services. There are several visiting clinics from regional specialists. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a designated level II unit. There are four intensive care cots and 12 special care cots. A Consultant Neonatologist leads the service in the district supported by three other Consultant Paediatricians with an interest in newborn. The unit has been commended by the Kings Fund Organisation Audit. The Paediatricians work in close liaison with the Obstetricians. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is provided by North East Essex Mental Health Trust. Beds are provided at LongviewHospital, Colchester.
Urology Department
The department has 1 Consultant Urologist, 1 Specialist Registrar, and 1 Staff Grade and 2 Senior House Officers.
Post Graduate Facilities
The Education Centre serves clinical staff from both Trusts in the 19th Century Parndon Hall, which is in the grounds of The Princess Alexandra Hospital. Facilities include a library, 24 hour study room, lecture theatre and clinical skills room. There are comprehensive postgraduate teaching programs including MRCP Conferences, journal clubs, grand ward rounds and GP meetings. The Trust has a number of teaching hospitals links, particularly the Royal London Hospital Trust, University College and the London School of Medicine and takes part in Medical students teaching and postgraduate rotations. Existing links with Addenbrookes's Hospital are being further developed.