King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s new Acute Care Wing will feature single rooms instead of shared rooms, according to the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB).

Chairman Jonathan Brewin said: “No matter who you are, as long as you require care in the facility, you will have your own room. This supports privacy and confidentiality.”

The new ward will include a total of 90 patient suites when it opens in September, each of which will have a full bathroom with shower, along with all the necessary medical equipment, a patient chair, bedside cabinet and wardrobe for personal items.

BHB CEO Venetta Symonds added: “A new nurse call system that will make it easier for patients to indicate their specific needs will be accessible from all rooms.

“Having one patient per room also enhances infection control, and it will support our efforts to offer each patient more personalised care. Patients requiring quiet to rest and recuperate will no longer be inconvenienced by another patient in the room or people visiting other patients.

“Our single suites provide a healing setting for our patients. All rooms have a large window with ‘Bermudaful’ views. Natural light and great views can be comforting for patients, helping them to heal and recover.”

Two hand wash basins will be in each suite, one in the bedroom and one in the bathroom. BHB Director of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Michael Ashton said the multiple hand basins will improve infection control efforts.

“Infections are easily spread by touching,” he said. “Proper hand washing eliminates most of the chances for infection to spread this way. Staff and visitors will have easy access to the basins and will be encouraged to wash their hands before and after their visits with each patient.”