Construction work to transform urgent and emergency care at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle began on Wednesday. The project will build on the recently-opened urgent treatment centre by creating a new permanent link corridor connecting it to the existing A&E unit. A new ambulance entrance and four additional assessment rooms will also be built, with work expected to continue until late December 2026.
What the work involves
In a notice published on Wednesday, hospital bosses said: "Work starts today on the next phase of improving our urgent and emergency care facilities at the RVI. This involves the construction of a permanent link corridor between the urgent treatment centre and the existing emergency department." They added: "It will also include building a new ambulance entrance and four additional assessment rooms. Work is expected to continue until late December 2026."
Patients can still access urgent and emergency care via the entrance to the urgent treatment centre, where they will be signposted to appropriate care, and services in both units will operate as normal. However, bosses at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, added: "There will inevitably be some disruption during this period and potentially longer waiting times. We are working hard to ensure patients continue to receive safe, effective and timely care."
Wider revamp and alternative services
The trust is reminding people that urgent treatment centres at Ponteland Road in Cowgate and Molineux Street in Byker offer care seven days a week. The construction is part of a wider revamp of same day emergency care at the RVI. Last month, a hospital trust spokesperson told ChronicleLive this formed part of a "phased programme of work", including "a new Urgent Treatment Centre which opened at the RVI in January and a new triage and assessment space which will be complete this year".
In 2027, the emergency department will be refurbished to increase the number of private cubicles available. Previous Health Secretary Wes Streeting earlier this year announced funding for a £7m expansion of the trust's Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services.
Hospital bosses reminded the public that for health advice or guidance about which NHS services to use, people can visit 111.nhs.uk. Emergency contraception and treatment for urine infections can also now be obtained at a pharmacy.
