The latest phase of a multi-million-pound expansion of the emergency department at QEQM Hospital in Margate opened to patients this week.
A new rapid assessment and treatment unit opened on Wednesday with 12 large new treatment rooms and dedicated mental health facilities.
It follows the opening last November of a new children’s emergency department, new treatment areas for adults, new entrance, waiting area and much-needed space for staff to work, learn and rest.
Joanna Williams, head of nursing for urgent and emergency care at QEQM said: “We are proud of the improvements we are making which mean that we can see and treat more patients sooner in much bigger, better and friendlier surroundings.
“Thank you to the many hospital teams and WW Martin for helping us make these improvements and to our local community for your patience while we transform the emergency department.”
The final phase of the department’s transformation is underway, to create a new resuscitation area, where some of the sickest patients are treated, and a new entrance for patients arriving by ambulance.
The £30million, three-year project for the departments at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate has been made possible through capital funding from NHS England.
