£1 million A&E upgrade at Wirral University Teaching Hospital

A £1 million upgrade has now been completed at Arrowe Park Hospital Emergency Department with the aim of improving emergency care for patients. The upgrade has provided eight side rooms, to allow for enhanced infection control measures.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) was awarded the Government funding in August last year. The project has been completed in just 12 weeks and is part of the Trust’s strategy to keep patients safe during the busy winter period, while still responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

To keep patients comfortable, the new side rooms have individual temperature and lighting controls and new trolleys with special mattresses. These improvements assist the Emergency Department team to provide a better patient experience.

Patients attending the Emergency Department are met at the entrance by a senior nurse who asks a detailed set of questions to assess COVID-19 infection risk. If infection is known or suspected they are taken to a side room. Having the additional new rooms available is helping to speed up the patient handover process from paramedics to the Emergency Department staff. This will ensure the ambulances are available for patients in the community.

Dr Nikki Stevenson, Executive Medical Director, Deputy Chief Executive and Consultant Respiratory Physician at WUTH, said: “Our Emergency Department is open for those who require emergency care in hospital and we will continue look after all patients - with and without COVID-19.

“A clean environment and social distancing is more important than ever. This extra funding has enabled us to upgrade our facilities, so we are able to provide the best care possible for people in most urgent need of care.

“It’s vital that those who need emergency treatment this winter access it, and I would like to assure anyone who may have concerns about coming to the hospital, that we have measures in place to keep our patients safe.”

Emma Maxwell, Matron in the Emergency Department added: “The department upgrade has given my team a real boost in morale. They’ve been facing some major challenges over the last year and the new state of the art facilities mean they are able provide the highest quality of care to our patients who are unwell with COVID-19, in a spacious, clean, safe environment.”

If it’s not an emergency, people who need urgent NHS care are asked to call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk in the first instance before they attend hospital and they will be directed to the most appropriate service for their care. This is to ensure patients can access the clinical service they need, first time – and avoid lengthy waits. Many common illnesses can be treated by a pharmacy or by visiting a GP.

Photo 1 - (Pictured left to right): Emma Maxwell, Emergency Department Matron at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH); Karen Heywood, Head of Urgent Care at WUTH; Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive; Tom Fitzharris, Emergency Department Matron at WUTH; Dr Andrea Wootten, Clinical Director of Emergency Medicine at WUTH and Hazel Richards, Chief Nurse at WUTH.