Local media were given a special ‘behind-the-scenes' tour of South Tyneside District Hospital's new Emergency Care Unit (ECU) today (Monday 6 December).
The unit will open to the public on Wednesday 15 December and will mark the completion of the second phase in a £8 million investment programme by South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust in new patient facilities.
The new ECU will provide state of the art emergency facilities for adults in ten assessment rooms with specialist resuscitation and treatment areas.
Children coming as emergencies will be treated right next door, being looked after from arrival by an expert children's team in a dedicated area with five specialist assessment rooms, three beds and a specialist paediatric resuscitation area.
The Trust's Chief Executive, Lorraine Lambert, said: "This move represents an exciting milestone in the development of our emergency care services and is a significant step towards our vision of a fully-integrated emergency care unit with the highest standard of facilities supported by expert staff.
"The new unit will provide an excellent level of emergency treatment for people when they need it most. It incorporates the latest technologies and best practices to help us to reduce waiting times and increase access for patients, while providing our emergency staff with a more efficient and effective work environment.
"We have spent a large of amount of time planning this and there will be no disruption to our emergency care service during the move."
Robertson, the infrastructure, support services and constructiomn group, are set to formally hand over the ECU on Monday 13 December, following which, Trust staff will move in to prepare the unit to received admissions.
Andy McLeod at Robertson said: "Robertson are delighted to be part of the team that have delivered this fantastic new A&E facility at South Tyneside District Hospital. Working closely with the Trust, their advisers and hospital staff we have managed to complete ahead of schedule with minimal disruption to current care provided from original treatment facilities. We are now due to commence the next phase of works, remodelling and refurbishing existing facilities, which will then provide an Integrated Emergency Care Centre.'
Starting in early January 2011 and following the transfer of the emergency service to its new permanent home, work will commence on the next phase to provide a new assessment centre within the ECU.
This area will be for patients who need to be evaluated over a longer period of time and who may also require admission. This will include many single rooms where they can undergo tests and await results.
Once assessment is complete and if admission is required, adult patients will be directed to the most appropriate ward for their needs. Children requiring further care will go to the hospital's children's ward.
The programme also included major improvements to the traffic flow, exterior lighting and ambulance bays, as well as new improved emergency reception facilities.