A new facility to support the health and wellbeing of patients has opened at The Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The new Adult Assessment Unit, which opened on Saturday, 16 January, is a two-storey extension adjacent to the emergency department (ED) at the front of the hospital and next to Charnley Ward.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the facility will initially be used as a modern inpatient ward, with an efficient layout and agile use of space to support social distancing. The ward will be for patients who do not have COVID-19.
This follows a number of moves of different specialties around the hospital to ensure that we are providing the right care in the best place.
It will later be brought into use as a dedicated space to see patients for rapid assessment and treatment for a variety of illnesses and injuries, helping patients to avoid unnecessary admission to hospital and ensure a shorter stay for those who are admitted.
This will improve the facilities available for patients ahead of the completion of the new hospital.
Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer, said: “We are dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing of our patients and enhancing patient flow through the hospital.
“Opening the Adult Assessment Unit is a fantastic milestone in our ongoing work to continually improve patient experience. Initially, the space will provide an additional facility for us to care for patients who do not have COVID-19, releasing capacity across other areas of the hospital.
“Thank you to all of the teams who have been involved in this extremely important project.”
Pictured: The Adult Assessment Unit in the final stages of development before opening.