£1 million project to enhance emergency care at Craigavon Area Hospital

by Gráinne Connolly

Craigavon Area Hospital is to benefit from a new £1 million Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit, to enhance emergency care and help reduce overnight stays.

The new unit will provide easy access to diagnostic tests for some conditions, as well as a review by hospital consultants in one place. 

The aim is provide a better overall experience for patients. 

This new unit will be located off the main hospital entrance, close to the Emergency Department and is due to be completed in Spring 2019. 

Phase one of the scheme, which is due to finish in November, involves creating space within the hospital ground floor, which is currently occupied by the boardroom and surrounding areas.

As part of the work, the shop will be relocated to the security office in the front of the hospital.

A new meeting room will also be created near the entrance to the hospital Dining Room and any staff affected by the changes will be relocated to other areas in the hospital.

A range of services will be accommodated in this new facility and planning is underway for the development of respiratory access services which are phase one of this service development.

Anita Carroll, Acting Director of Acute Services said:

“Traditionally patients would come to hospital, often via the emergency department and be admitted to a ward for further tests or investigation.

"However,we have done a lot of work in recent years to develop a range of alternatives to hospital admission as there is a lot of evidence that people get better faster in their own homes, in familiar surroundings.

"Having this new unit at the front door of the hospital and close to the Emergency Department means we can improve patient flow and that our patients will receive the right care in the right place at the right time.”

“As the building work gets underway,there will be some disruption and extra noise but we will do our best to keep this to an absolute minimum.

"We will also ensure that there are signs in place to keep everybody visiting thehospital aware of changes/restrictions caused by the works.”