The need for improved Emergency Services has been acknowledged for some time which are currently being provided from the original department in the Queens Building with additional area in the Terrell Street Ward Block (TSB).
This situation has been exacerbated by the covid pandemic. The Trust along with other major hospitals around the country have been tasked to provide a more efficient patient flow through the ED into appropriate areas of care and to respond to the need for social distancing and other requirements of providing care during a pandemic.
The objective of this scheme is to assess the feasibility and costs associated with reconfiguring the current ED in the shortest possible programme. The scope of the work considered a number of architectural functional layout options which were presented to the Trust and the ED clinicians; a preferred option was agreed previously upon that has been developed. Consideration of upgrading the inadequate ventilation system has now been progressed in line with the architectural layout.
As part of the Trust’s response to the current pandemic, the adjacent area in TSB was adapted to provide an enhanced service as required by changing needs. This refurbishment is intended to provide a more flexible and responsive department for the future.
The brief is to increase the existing waiting area by relocating the Observation Ward (and reconfiguring other areas within the department) to allow an improved patient flow. The proposal approximately doubles the size of the waiting area allowing for social distancing during the current pandemic or a greater number of patients in normal circumstances.
The Observation cubicles will be re-purposed for treatment bays monitored by a larger centrally located nurse base which will include storage. The existing reception will remain with additional CCTV installation to ensure visibility of the entire waiting room.
