New Cramlington Emergency Hospital Officially Opens
Northumbria and North Tynesides's most serious emergencies will now be treated at a multi-million pound hospital.
Northumbria and North Tynesides's most serious emergencies will now be treated at a multi-million pound hospital.
The doors to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington opened this morning.
Expert clinical teams will be on hand around the clock on the site, which is the first purpose-built dedicated emergency care hospital in England.
It is hoped it will speed up specialist care for patients, maximising chances of survival and a good recovery and helping to save more lives.
It also means there will be changes for emergency care at Hexham, North Tyneside and Wansbeck general hospitals which will become 24-hour walk-in services but still provide care for people with less serious conditions.
David Evans, Medical director of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Our new model of care is about getting those patients who are seriously ill or injured to a place where the right experts will be there consistently, round the clock, ready to treat them.
"Our general hospitals will also continue to provide round the clock care at 24 hour walk-in services for the less serious conditions which often need urgent attention".