The temporary entrance will be in place for around three months, allowing essential improvement works to continue safely while the Emergency Department remains open and providing care to patients.
The work forms part of a wider £2 million investment to improve the ED, with the project designed to support faster care, create additional clinical space and provide a better environment and experience for patients and their families.
Clear signage will be in place around the hospital to help patients and visitors find the temporary entrance, with way finders also available to provide directions and support.
Patients attending the Paediatric Emergency Department should follow the signs on arrival and speak to staff who will direct them to the appropriate area.
Helping us keep the area safe and accessible
While the improvement works are taking place, there will be some additional constraints around the Emergency Department and main entrance.
The hospital is asking patients and visitors to help keep the area clear and accessible by limiting the number of people accompanying patients to the ED where possible.
People who need to drop off patients are also encouraged to avoid the area immediately outside the ED and main entrance where possible. Instead, they are asked to continue further along the road past the ED and main entrance to help prevent congestion in an already busy area.
The hospital is also encouraging people with reduced mobility to use the patient buggy service where appropriate when travelling between the car parks and hospital entrance.
Way finders will be available to support patients and visitors, while clearly located signs will provide directions around the affected areas.
The QEH is also reminding patients and visitors that the hospital is a smokefree site, with smoking not permitted anywhere within the hospital grounds.
Richard Parker, Chief Operating Officer at The QEH, said: “We know that any changes to how patients and visitors access our Emergency Department can cause some inconvenience, which is why we are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum.
“These arrangements are an important part of allowing us to continue with improvements that will benefit our patients, helping us to create a more efficient Emergency Department with better clinical spaces and an improved experience for patients and families.
“The Emergency Department will remain open throughout the work and our staff and way finders will be on hand to support patients and visitors. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding, and for helping us keep the area safe and accessible while these important improvements take place.”
The first phase of the Emergency Department improvement programme began in June. The project is taking place in phases to allow the department to continue providing emergency care throughout the works.
The reconfigured area is expected to be completed and open to patients by April 2027.
Ends. Notes to editors; For media enquiries only, please contact Communications Team, media.enquiries@qehkl.nhs.uk or 01553 613216. For all other enquiries, please contact QEH Switchboard on 01553 613613.
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