Work set to revamp Poole Hospital's emergency department

A new resuscitation area is being built, which hospital chiefs say will be better suited to the care of ill patients with infectious diseases.

As part of the project, the current emergency department reception and waiting area will be demolished for a new four-bed resus area with isolation rooms.

Bruce Hopkins, matron of emergency and urgent care at Poole Hospital, said: "We look forward to having the additional facilities this project will provide, which will allow us to see and treat patients quicker, and in a more appropriate environment.

"For the foreseeable future, patients needing emergency assistance are encouraged to use alternative options as appropriate, particularly the NHS 111 First service, where they will be given a booked appointment.

"'Walk-ins’ will still be seen, but as there will be disruption and delay during these construction works, all patients should only attend in a genuine emergency.”

The hospital's ambulatory care (outpatients) area will also be upgraded during the project.

A spokesman for University Hospitals Trust says, as most patients are seen in the hospital's Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), it is hoped there will be minimal disruption to patient care during the period.

Work is scheduled to start on Monday, February 15, continuing until early May.

As part of the merger of the Poole and Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospital trusts into University Hospitals Trust, which completed last October, the Royal Bournemouth Hospital will eventually become a major emergency centre, with Poole Hospital having an increased focus on planned treatment.

However, the change of hospital services are expected to take around six years to come into full effect.

During the work starting at Poole Hospital next week there will be no pedestrian access directly into the emergency department.

All patients needing to attend the UTC are being asked to use the hospital's north entrance.

Ambulance arrivals will be unaffected.