Designed by Avanti Architects, and located within the hospital's award-winning Acute Services Block, the new Ulster Hospital Emergency Department has opened its doors to the public.
Avanti says the new department features ‘generous light-filled spaces’, and provides a safe, therapeutic environment for patients, staff, and visitors. The architects said: “It is equipped with advanced resuscitation facilities, separate adult and children’s departments, excellent triage facilities, and a dedicated ambulance arrivals area. The new Emergency Department links directly with the new Imaging Department co-located within the new Acute Services Block and to the adjacent existing Critical Care facilities.
Clinical director of Emergency Medicine at the South Eastern Trust, Dr Andrew Dobbin, said: “This is a beautiful department, it’s state of the art. The new Emergency Department is a purpose-built space which will really benefit our patients and our staff. It now has at its disposal all the latest technology, which will help both diagnose and treat patients in need of emergency care. I am also delighted that we will be able to use the former Emergency Department for an enhanced Minor Injury Unit, which will help preserve the Emergency Department for emergencies only, and improve the flow of patients through our hospital.”
The Trust’s CEO, Roisin Coulter, added: “The Trust is excited and proud to open this new Emergency Department and operate an enhanced Consultant led Minor Injury Unit, which will provide a more comprehensive, long-term, sustainable urgent and emergency care service for the community. This new, fit-for-purpose, bright, modern ED will enable our staff to continue to deliver high quality care to acutely unwell patients in a superior work environment. Patients are at the heart of everything we do, and their safety is our priority.”
