The UECD has been designed to give the best possible care to patients. 

We have seen an increase in attendances year on year, with the old ED department being built in the 1970’s to cater for average attendances of 50,000 we are now seeing over 100,000 patients per year but not only higher volume, we are seeing far more unwell patients than we have ever seen. To accommodate this, we have increased the number of pitstop bays which are used by the ambulance service to allow quick turnaround and allow us to ensure patients are streamed in the safest and most efficient way. 

The UECD is being built to accommodate the increased numbers of attendances and to support the change in patient presentations who are now much more unwell than we had previously experienced. 

The UECD will open in Summer 2023 and is expected to see thousands of patients per year. 
 

The UECD will look to manage the increased demands placed on all Trusts and will lead the way in innovative and creative solutions to cope with changing requirements / demands.

The UECD has been designed to ensure an altogether more efficient and quality focused, patient experience. From arrival at the £27m development on the Trust site, the UECD is designed to be different by focusing on an individual’s journeys through the UECD – the times when our communities need us the most.
 

• There will be a navigation point at the entrance to support patients make the best decisions for ongoing care. 
• With enhanced air changes and negative pressure throughout the department our goal is to ensure the reduction of airborne disease transmission utilising learning from Covid pandemics. 
• Every room has been designed with a specific function in mind but with the ability to be altered depending on demands on the department. This flexibility will provide reassurance and future-proof environment. 
• Enhanced clinical testing systems are being fitted to every clinical room, allowing quick and early diagnostics and ongoing patient monitoring. This will reduce the time patients spend waiting diagnostics and will also improve the work environment for our clinicians and supporting colleagues. 
• We will have a bespoke paediatric clinical area that will have 24/7 cover by specialist paediatric teams, ensuring our youngest patients are cared for in the most appropriate environment.
• We are investing in a bespoke separate waiting area for our neurodiverse patients and any patients experiencing mental health crises – learning from best practice, this includes having high levels of natural light with a skylight in the ceiling. Our view is with the increased number of patients attending in mental health crisis this will be an invaluable asset in ensuring patients are treated with respect and dignity in care. 
• Some patients are waiting longer than we would like in department and we have ensured there are numerous facilities available in the department to ease this – this includes specific catering offers for our patients that are awaiting treatment. 
• The department has been designed to ensure the best monitoring of patients both visually and electronically, but also ensuring that our clinical colleagues are visible and approachable through the unique design of the new development. This includes work bases set up in the middle of clinical areas and each clinical room having access to the electronic patient record, ensuring our clinicians always have access to the correct equipment and most up-to-date personalised information. 
• We are increasing the number of resuscitation bays for our most unwell patients to six, this including bespoke isolation and paediatric resus bays. These areas are designed to allow the very best monitoring and care as well as providing access to all the equipment, medication and blood products required for our most unwell patients including a blood fridge, Omnicell pharmacy machine and an anaesthetic machine in every bay. Natural light is an important asset and two huge skylights have been placed directly over the clinical workspace to ensure colleagues and patients are able to see the outside world.

Added extra…

• To support colleagues – increasing our ability to recruit and retain the very best clinicians – education, training and health and wellbeing facilities are being integrated into the top of the UECD to ensure colleagues have access to the most modern facilities. 
• A breakout room for colleagues, with lots of natural light, male and female changing rooms with showers and lockers to support our workforce is an added selling point. 
• Offices for medical, nursing and AHP staff are included to ensure there is space to undertake administrative tasks. 
• We have built a state-of-the-art simulation suite to support real-world simulation – this will increase expertise and confidence. 
• We are hoping that the facilities we have built show our recognition of the efforts of ED – we want all colleagues to be looked after to the highest standard as they look after patients.

In summary:
Patients will notice lots of natural light, bespoke artwork and enhanced information sharing ensuring they understand the waiting times, and what is currently happening within the department and what their journey through the department will look like. 

Patients who have visited the previous ED department will notice huge changes in facilities, clinical room layout and clinical facilities, patients that have not visited before will see a state-of-the-art ED that provides the highest standard of care. The UECD will be a beacon of emergency care in the Midlands and is already being used by other organisations of how to build a ED. Our only ask – please ensure you only visit us if you need to – help us to help those who truly need emergency care.