£3.2 million upgrade for St Mary’s Hospital A&E department
Patients visiting accident and emergency (A&E) at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington are set to benefit from improved facilities and an increase in treatment areas for the most serious cases following a £3.2 million refurbishment.
Work on the upgrade, which is funded in full by a grant from Imperial College Healthcare Charity, will begin on Monday 6 June. The A&E will remain open throughout the refurbishment which is due to be completed by early January 2017.
The planned works include:
• an increase in the number of resuscitation bays - where seriously ill patients are stabilised as priorities - from four to six
• a new four-bed paediatric assessment unit within the children’s A&E department to provide dedicated facilities for children who need further investigation to determine whether they should be admitted or discharged
• improved patient pathways with the creation of a new assessment area
• a redesigned reception area which will offer more privacy and a better patient experience
• a new area where friends and families can wait in private
The refurbishment follows on from investment last year by the Trust which saw an increase of six consultants in St Mary’s A&E. This has allowed the department to provide more senior staff until later in the evening and increased capacity at the weekend.
Dr Ali Sanders, Chief of Service for emergency and ambulatory care at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said:
“The layout and design of St Mary’s A&E department needs to keep pace with demand. Last year, we had a 5 per cent increase in patients arriving via emergency ‘blue light’ ambulance. The upgrade will provide more spaces for assessment and treatment of our most critically ill and injured patients and a more efficient working environment for staff. This will mean faster pathways for patients, in better surroundings and with greater privacy.”
Ian Lush, CEO of Imperial College Healthcare Charity, said:
“A&E departments can be stressful places to visit and work. Improving the facilities at St Mary’s A&E will give a significant boost to patients, staff and families, and bring the environment up to a standard which better reflects the very high quality of the clinical care provided. We are pleased that the Charity has been able to make this significant investment in the Trust’s facilities.”
The A&E will remain operational throughout the works which will be completed in phases to minimise disruption.
The refurbishment forms part of a range of improvements to improve the efficiency and quality of the Trust’s A&E services.
Notes to editors
1. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s emergency care services include accident and emergency departments, urgent care centres (UCC) and specialist emergency centres. A&E services are located at St Mary’s and Charing Cross hospitals. UCC services are located at St Mary’s, Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals. Children’s A&E service is located at St Mary’s Hospital. A 24 hour ophthalmic emergency service is provided at the Western Eye Hospital.
2. Imperial College Healthcare Charity raises funds for five London hospitals within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust: Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea, St Mary’s and Western Eye hospitals. Since 2009, the charity has awarded over £20million in grants to over 400 pieces of clinical research and healthcare projects across the hospitals, all of which aim to improve patient healthcare www.imperialcharity.org.uk
