York Hospital’s £18 million expanded and redesigned emergency department opens to the public today (Monday).
The two-storey expansion, which has taken 20 months to complete, includes a vital new eight-bedded resuscitation area and 12 new assessment and treatment cubicles.
There is also a newly remodelled waiting area which contains a separate children’s area and supporting facilities such as a nappy changing area.
Upstairs in the extension there is a spacious area for same-day emergency care where patients will be treated in the department and then discharged without the need to be admitted as an inpatient.
Dr Steve Crane, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Lead, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said, “We’re really looking forward to being able to use these fantastic new facilities, for the benefit of patients using our emergency and urgent care services.
“The environment for care is much better and we are hoping to reduce the time patients must wait – as well as improving the quality and timeliness of urgent treatment. It will also help our partners in the ambulance service by reducing the time taken for them to transfer patients to us and get back on the road.
Steve added, “Patients should notice being cared for more quickly, more expertly and in better facilities.”
The new facilities come just days after a critical report into the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust from the Care Quality Commission.
It rated emergency care as inadequate. Hospital bosses say the expansion will help to address the challenges in A&E.
Simon Morritt, Chief Executive, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The expansion has been a big project and, as you would expect with a hospital, it’s involved some complex planning.
“The department sees around 300 patients a day, so I’m certain that these improvements will make an enormous difference to both patients and staff alike.”
The department was officially opened by Margaret Locker, senior sister from the department. Margaret has served over 52 years with the NHS, all of which have been with the York trust.
[tptn_list limit=3 daily=1 hour_range=1]