Struggling London hospital secures £42m to rebuild A&E

A struggling London hospital has secured £42 million in funding to rebuild its A&E department.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust confirmed the successful bid for Queen’s Hospital on Monday following a campaign lasting almost two years.

Originally constructed in 2006 to care for 325 patients daily, the east London hospital said today it routinely treats more than twice that figure.

Fiona Wheeler, the interim chief executive of the trust, said the redevelopment of the site in Romford would “restore dignity” and “improve safety” for patients.

She said the new facility would create the conditions for staff to “deliver the best possible care”.

Ms Wheeler has previously said that the current emergency department was not fit-for-purpose.

Queen’s Hospital in Romford

PA

The department has no waiting area, the rapid assessment and focused treatment emergency department is used “inappropriately” due to overcrowding, and people have to walk 335 steps from the Queen’s entrance to the adult A&E.

The new A&E will be a 50-step walk away.

There will be dedicated waiting areas, an improved layout for staff to monitor patients, a redesign in the way patients move through the department, and more natural light.

Additionally, the corridor and assessment area will be combined into one space and a dedicated resuscitation area will be installed.

The children’s A&E will also be revamped using the funding, the trust said.

Improvements to the experience for parents and children had been at the centre of a campaign led by local families and Margaret Mullane, the Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham.

In a statement announcing the A&E investment, Ms Wheeler said: “This is a landmark moment for our residents and our staff.

“The £42m allows us to build on the work our teams have already done to improve the service we provide in our A&E, reduce waiting times and the need for corridor care.

“It will put an end to staff working in cramped conditions and create a better clinical environment.”

She added: “We’re looking forward to getting the spades in the ground and transforming our A&E into one we can be proud of.”

According to reports, the trust had blamed budget challenges for failing to pay some of its suppliers on time.

Former trust chief executive Matthew Trainer said in September that outgoings were “£2 million to 3 million a month more than we can afford”.

The funding injection is part of a £140m boost for urgent care announced by Health Secretary Yvette Cooper ahead of a “tough” winter.

The Department for Health said the investment into Queen’s Hospital “should help reduce waiting times, corridor care and pressure on staff”.

As part of the investment, emergency departments across London will share £18.4m across three years to help produce digital check-in and triage tools designed to help identify patients' needs faster.