Building work to improve the capacity within the emergency department at West Cumberland Hospital is now underway. The work is part of the £4 million winter funding awarded to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust earlier this year and will enable us to further develop the same day emergency care facilities we can offer on site.
The Trust has worked hard to improve its Emergency Departments in recent months, successfully implementing the Same Day Emergency Care model at both sites. The delivery of additional space will enable us to develop this work further, by improving capacity, reducing overcrowding, and improve the overall patient experience.
Groundwork has started at the West Cumberland Hospital to prepare for the arrival of a single storey build next month. The extension will sit adjacent to the existing build and will be accessible from the current Emergency Assessment Unit as well as a separate entrance.
This unit will encompass a procedure room, 4 clinic/assessment rooms, an infusion room with up to 6 trollies or chairs with dedicated staff base, a reception & waiting area as well as office space. Staff rest space is also to be improved during the project after staff highlighted this during design stage.
Improvements will also be made within the main hospital, the work comprises of, the development of a Rapid Assessment & Treatment Room (RAT’s), with the Emergency Department which will enable an improved patient experience.
It is planned that these upgrades will improve patient flow within the hospital and allow the Trust to effectively reduce some of the pressure that winter brings. The developments should also reduce delays for patients who attend the Emergency Department at the site.
David Glover Emergency Care and medicine General Manager at the West Cumberland Hospital said:
“We are eager for the expansion and development work to begin to the existing Emergency Care Floor at WCH. It will allow us to offer a much improved service to our patients and will also provide an improved working environment for our staff.”
Work will begin at the site on the 4th of January and is expected to be complete by the end of March.
Note:
Earlier in the year, NHS Trusts across England, including North Cumbria Integrated NHS Foundation Trust has been allocated a share of a £300 million funding package to upgrade facilities ahead of winter. The Trust will receive £4 million and £1.75million is being spent at the West Cumberland Hospital.
Find out more information about where the rest of the funds are being allocated.