Patients on the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) at Walsall Manor Hospital will be the next to move into its state-of-the art Urgent and Emergency Care Centre this week.
Teams from the Emergency Department (ED) were the first to move into the new £c40m centre overnight last Wednesday 1 March, into the following day Thursday 2 March.
AMU is scheduled to start its move around breakfast time this Thursday 9 March, throughout the day.
Rachel Tomkins, Deputy Divisional Director of Nursing at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said the safety of patients would be the priority.
She said: “We will carry out safety risk assessments the evening before the planned move so that we can determine the safest and most appropriate patients to transfer into the new unit.
“We will make sure we keep the patients fully updated too appreciating it’s not something you expect as a patient – to be moving into a completely new environment! No more than six patients each hour will be transferred.
“Equipment and stock has already started to be put in place and the same support teams that helped the ED move last week will join us as floor walkers and trouble shooters to help make things as seamless as possible for staff and patients alike.”
Julie Corns, AMU Matron, added: “Our big day is finally here and we couldn’t be more excited. The new unit is so spacious and airy. It’s so much better for our patients and for the staff who care for them too.”
The multi-million-pound facility 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 Frailty and Community Integrated Assessment services.
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, improve quality of care, improve patient experience, and improve the working environment for staff.