28 November 2023
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, operator of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, today announced that recent facilities upgrades at the Princess Royal Hospital have transformed the hospital’s front entrance and improved the experience for patients, visitors, and colleagues.
As part of the upgrade, the Trust also welcomes a dedicated Market Express, offering access to a range of food and convenience items seven days a week. Importantly, it will provide greater choice for patients, visitors and staff.
The multimillion-pound two-storey development will also provide critical, modern workspaces for the Trust’s valued clinical and administration teams. These efforts are nearing completion and expected to open in the coming weeks.
Phase two of the development includes the opening of the dedicated planned care hub in early 2024, including new theatres and patient-consultation rooms. This will enable the Trust to provide more day case surgery at Telford, reducing waiting times and improving the patient experience.
Louise Barnett, Chief Executive of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “We welcome this new partnership, providing an improved food and retail offer and a positive experience for everyone. We have listened to our patients, visitors and colleagues who asked us to enhance our existing catering offer, including in the evenings. It has been positive to see so many people benefitting from the new services.
“We continually strive to improve our facilities for our patients, their carers, visitors, and our colleagues. This is the first phase of our exciting investment into the Princess Royal Hospital, which will enable us to deliver excellent care for all the communities we serve.”
One Retail, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has collaborated with The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and noviniti, to open the Market Express store, the world’s first store within a healthcare location to use Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.
This Just Walk Out technology-enabled store provides an expanded range of hot and cold food to go, such as sandwiches and salads, as well as sundries such as chilled meals and groceries, and even toiletries. Guests can also obtain hot beverages from Change Please, a social enterprise that donates all profits to tackling homelessness.
This Market Express will complement the existing catering arrangements in the Trust during the day and significantly enhance the current vending machines available at night.
Andrew Jones, One Retail, Managing Director commented: “This technology is a first in a healthcare setting and perfectly responds to the mandate for food and drinks being readily available for staff. This is a major step forward for the Princess Royal Hospital and brings together the best in innovation, convenience, and quality offerings.”
Marc Hastings, CEO of noviniti said: “We are delighted that the doors to the new two-storey Main Entrance and Admin Hub at the Princess Royal Hospital are now open. Our partnership with The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and One Retail has greatly improved the staff, patients and visitors experience with a Costa Coffee and frictionless convenience store. This innovative shopping experience is a first within healthcare, and I’m sure we will see this solution being adopted within other NHS Trusts.”
