Building works underway to improve Emergency Department at St George’s
This week (26 October 2020) our estates and facilities team have started building works designed to improve the experience of patients visiting our Emergency Department, and staff based there.
The works will take approximately eight weeks to complete, and transform areas of the department to keep staff and patients safe, and reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection. The project involves creating a new reception and waiting room area, as well as enclosing a number of bays and cubicles that are currently open.
The works are designed to improve the experience of patients but, as important, strengthen infection prevention and control measures within the department. Once completed, it will be easier for patients to social distance; and the addition of more enclosed cubicles will also reduce spread of the virus.
During the improvement works, patients attending our Emergency Department will enter via the St James Wing entrance. This means that the St James Wing entrance is now restricted to most other patients and staff during this time.
Those that are able to use the entrance include patients attending or staff working in:
- Emergency Department
- Nye Bevan Unit
- Main X Ray
- Main X Ray to the MRI scanner outside St James Wing
- Richmond Acute Medical Unit
- HATS non-emergency patient transport (only in event of access issues via Grosvenor Wing and Atkinson Morley Wing.
Patients who may be frail, elderly or have a disability will also be given access if they are at this entry point. All other patients and staff will need to use Grosvenor Wing and Atkinson Morley Wing entrances.
Tori Cooper, Head of Nursing for the Emergency Department, said: “This is an exciting project for St George’s which will be very beneficial to both patients and staff. While the works are ongoing, we would like to reassure you that our Emergency Department remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone requiring emergency care.
“When you visit the department, you will notice some obvious changes. For example, all walk-in patients will be directed through a new entrance to our temporary reception desk and waiting room area. Despite these alterations, the care our teams provide hasn’t changed, so please don’t delay coming to us if you need us. We have a range of measures in place to keep everyone safe, and to help put your mind at ease.”
We would like to thank you for your co-operation while we complete these works, and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.
