Patient flows to be improved thanks to new unit being built
£15 million plans for Torbay Hospital have been approved
The number of assessment spaces is being doubled at Torbay Hospital to help ease pressures on the A&E department - after £15 million plans were approved.
The new on-site Acute Medicine Unit will double the number of assessment spaces from 26 to 52.
The application, approved by Torbay Council says: "The Acute Medicine Unit is essential to reduce overcrowding in the existing Emergency Department and to ensure that patients receive timely, high quality care in the right place.
"The current unit has 26 assessment spaces for patients, whereas the new facility will see this increase to 52 assessment spaces, provided in a modern and fit-for-purpose AMU which will be split over two levels.
"The new building will co-locate the Emergency Department and AMU, both of which are adjacent to the existing diagnostics allowing better use of workforce and improved patient flow.
"Currently the majority of the hospital’s emergency admissions go through Emergency Department, with some GP expected patients going directly to the Surgical Assessment unit.
"The Design and Access Statement advises that, by establishing a Medical Assessment Unit it is estimated that at least 80% of medical patients will be streamed away from ED, which will improve flow and reduce hospital admissions."
Work had already started to build the site, ahead of planning permission being granted, with more details here
Click here for more about the plans