Work is continuing on the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at Walsall Manor Hospital which will be fully functional early in the New Year.
The multi-million-pound centre – Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s most substantial investment to date – is being delivered by Tilbury Douglas Limited.
Completion was initially expected to be this autumn, but the long-term effects of COVID-19 have created supply chain difficulties for some companies and the handover date is now 2023.
Russell Caldicott, Chief Financial Officer and Walsall Healthcare’s Senior Responsible Officer for the development, said: “It has been another tough year and many aspects of our lives are still being affected by COVID-19 along with a number of additional, economic factors.
“People will be well aware of supply issues that have an everyday impact as well as a major impact on major construction projects such as this one. Work is continuing at pace and we are all sighted on this fantastic new development being handed over to the Trust early in the New Year, with teams very much looking forward to working in their new environment.”
Ned Hobbs, Chief Operating Officer, added: “The transition process for staff moving into the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre and the patients who will be supported there is well underway.
“Whilst we’re now going to have the building handed over to us early in 2023, it does give Tilbury Douglas an opportunity to carry out enabling works on our first-floor shell space which will incorporate our Frailty service, Integrated Front Door Service and Mental Health and other specialists.”
The new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre includes an Urgent Treatment Centre, Emergency Department including Resus and Rapid Assessment and Treatment area, and Children’s ED, co-located Paediatric Assessment Unit, Acute Medical Unit, and provision for Ambulatory Emergency Care services in a future phase.
It also includes re-configuration of the current Emergency Department footprint, to incorporate improved Ambulatory Emergency Care and Imaging services.
Various specialist facilities are located throughout, such as an isolation room for infectious patients, bariatric provision and digital x-ray rooms. All areas have been designed specifically to enhance clinical staff efficiency, provide improved quality of care, improved patient experience, and a much-improved working environment for staff.