The first phase of a new Emergency Department (ED) development at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), opened to patients this week.
This £17million expansion project will ultimately double the size of Wythenshawe Hospital’s existing ED unit ensuring it can continue to provide high quality emergency care for patients across South Manchester and Trafford, in bigger and better surroundings that meet increasing demands.
The new extension opened to patients yesterday (Wednesday 16th May). Improvements in this first stage of the development include 25 new ‘majors’ cubicles, a new reception and waiting area with improved triage and ambulance bays. There will also be two dedicated rooms for mental health patients and three new staff bases.
Chief Executive at Wythenshawe Hospital, Mandy Bailey said; “I am delighted to see the first stage of this important new facility open to patients. These improvements mean patients across South Manchester and Trafford will continue to access the very latest, specialist emergency care when they need it most.”
This new 2,000m² facility, which will significantly enhance patient experience and care, has been designed to improve the patient environment with larger colour-coded treatment rooms and cubicles, as well as much more comfortable facilities for patients and their families. The two-storey building will also house two additional resuscitation bays, two new X-ray rooms and the Children’s Emergency Department will be improved and expanded – as part of further redevelopment work.
ED Matron Joanna Jarvis, added; “Designed with the patient at its centre, this new development will ensure that our clinical teams can deliver enhanced, high quality, emergency treatment in a much improved environment, with state of the art facilities.
“Now open, we have larger treatment rooms and cubicles, as well as much more comfortable facilities for our patients and their families. This helps make a difference at what can be such a distressing time.”
This major expansion project is being delivered in three phases. The second phase is an internal refurbishment to the existing department to provide a new resuscitation area, Children’s Emergency Department and X-ray facilities, which is set to be completed in late 2018. The third phase concentrates on refurbishment works to provide relative’s facilities, offices and seminar rooms, due to finish in early 2019.
The Emergency Department at Wythenshawe Hospital has remained open throughout all building work, which began in Summer 2017.