The next major milestone of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital’s Wonford Emergency Department (ED) redesign will soon be reached, with its new main entrance area and waiting areas opening on Monday 13 February. 

From 13 February, the entrance will no longer be through the main hospital site, and will instead be via the entrance on Church Hill, which is where it was before the works started.

This milestone, alongside other key changes to the new department which will be completed over the coming months, will help to accommodate the increasing number of people accessing the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s emergency and urgent care services.

The full transformation of the RD&E Wonford’s Emergency Department, which will be completed over the coming months, includes:

• A new six-bedded resuscitation area to help create additional space for patients who have a life-threatening illness or injury. An additional two-bedded children’s resuscitation area will open this summer.
• An increased major’s area from 8 cubicles to 15 cubicles for patients with complex illnesses or injury, which will be fully operational in the next few months
• Renovated minor injuries area with additional see and treat rooms to improve patients experience
• New triage facilities and procedure rooms to complete timely investigations and assist in the patient pathway and experience.
• An updated bereavement suite to support loved ones and provided care to the deceased
• A new decontamination area for patients who present with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear injuries, to help keep our staff and other patients safe
• A renovated dedicated entrance for patients self-presenting into the ED
• A refurbished ED reception and waiting area
• A new entrance for ambulances to provide increased space for arrivals and transferring patients into the ED, which will open this Spring.

Following the completion of this, work to further extend the Trust’s emergency and urgent care services will begin, which includes a dedicated children’s ED area and new children’s admissions unit. This is in the final stages of design and work is likely to commence in the late summer. This will further increase the teams capacity to manage the increasing urgent care demands of younger people, within the comfort of children-friendly surroundings.

Chris Tidman, the Royal Devon’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted that we have reached this next milestone of this project. These changes will massively improve how we provide urgent and emergency care, giving us greater capacity for our most complex patients as well as creating a better overall care environment for patients and staff.

“However, we do continue to ask that the public please think carefully before attending our Emergency Department so that we can be there for those who need us most. If you’re ill or injured but it’s not life threatening and you’re unsure where to turn, please use 111.nhs.uk or call 111 for advice in the first instance - they’ll tell you where to go to receive the quickest care possible.”