A new £40 million development at a Merseyside hospital is expected to benefit thousands of patients each year. A new urgent and emergency care facility designed to transform the experience of patients has opened at Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral.
Biggest capital investment since 1982
The scheme, which marks the biggest capital investment at Arrowe Park Hospital since it first opened in 1982, has seen a complete redevelopment of the Emergency Department for adults and children and the Urgent Treatment Centre.
The adult Emergency Department run by Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) and Urgent Treatment Centre run by Wirral Community Health and Care (WCHC) have been reconfigured into one space with a single point of entry. Children requiring urgent or emergency care will access a dedicated Children's Emergency Department through the same main entrance, providing a significantly improved environment designed to meet the needs of young patients and their families.
Integration milestone
The work also marks a milestone in the closer integration of WUTH and WCHC as the organisations work towards becoming a single trust next year. An official opening was attended by Sir David Henshaw, Chair of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside; Liz Bishop, Chief Executive of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and Kathy Cowell, Regional Chair of NHS England.
Janelle Holmes, Joint Chief Executive at WUTH and WCHC said: “This fantastic facility will transform urgent and emergency care for the people of Wirral when they need it most. By bringing services together in one location, we will be able to provide a more seamless experience for patients and ensure people who need urgent or emergency support receive the right care, at the right time and in the right setting.
“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in bringing this development to completion. This project is a testament to what can be achieved when organisations work together with a shared vision, delivering tangible benefits for patients, staff and the communities we serve.”
Improved clinical facilities
Dr Nikki Stevenson, Joint Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at WUTH and WCHC, added: “We always aim to provide the best care we can for our patients and this new development, with its vastly improved clinical facilities, will help us to achieve that for those who require urgent or emergency care.
“It will create a much better experience for patients, who will be assessed and directed to the healthcare professional or service that best meets their needs.”
People are reminded the Emergency Department is for life-threatening emergencies and people in the greatest need are prioritised. For people who do not have an emergency, lots of help is available and they are asked to use NHS 111, contact their GP, visit a Walk-in Centre or Urgent Treatment Centre, or seek expert advice from a local pharmacy.
