Hospital event showcases the future of NHS care
Visitors to Southend Hospital this week were given a glimpse into the future of local NHS care, as part of a special Marketplace event held alongside the Trust’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Organised at the hospital’s Education Centre, the Marketplace showcased some of the most exciting innovations and improvements happening across Broomfield, Basildon and Southend Hospitals – from cutting-edge radiotherapy technology and new ways of delivering care, to community-focused services that bring support closer to home.
Guests had the chance to step inside the Burns Bus – a purpose-built mobile unit bringing specialist burns care directly into local communities and experience a patient’s journey through hospital with immersive virtual reality headsets.
Stalls also featured the latest developments from the Trust’s Digital Transformation team, Community Diagnostic Centres and Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity team, as well as a focus on staff wellbeing and sustainability.
The Trust runs Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals, and the event drew interest from patients, staff and members of the public keen to learn more about how local NHS services are evolving.
Among the visitors were Dorothy and Ryan from Hullbridge. They said: “This afternoon has been very good and informative. We’ve never been to one of these before, but we’ll certainly be back next year to see what’s been going on.”
Sue Boasman, Burns Advanced Nurse Practitioner, said: “The Marketplace has been a great opportunity to connect with the public and colleagues. We’ve met people we wouldn’t usually come across in our day-to-day roles and have been able to promote important information about preventing burns injuries.”
Andy Wood, OBE, Chair of the Trust, said: “This year’s AGM and Marketplace really captured the spirit of innovation, compassion and collaboration that runs through our hospitals. It was a brilliant way to showcase the work of our teams and how they’re constantly improving care for patients across mid and south Essex.”
Next year’s event is already being planned – further details will be shared nearer the time on the Trust’s website.